The Contested Maritime and Territorial Boundaries of Malaysia:An International Law Perspective

Malaysia exemplifies boundary problems faced by most countries throughout Southeast Asia. This work studies the origins of Malaysian maritime and territorial disputes. The main text is divided into two parts: The first examines the maritime claims arising from the publication of the Malaysian map issued in 1979. The second analyses five territorial disputes between Malaysia and its neighbours.

The Contested Maritime and Territorial Boundaries of Malaysia explores the country's overlapping maritime claims in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the Gulf of Thailand, the South China Sea, the Sulu Sea, and the Celebes Sea. A comprehensive examination of Malaysia's territorial disputes with Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, China, and Taiwan follows, including coverage of the complicated matter of ownership over the Spratly Islands. A detailed look at the historical context demonstrates the longevity and complexity of the legal issues involved in the present disputes. The work scrutinizes the claims made under prevailing international law principles and examines the present level of dispute resolution.

The first extensive study of its kind and an important addition to the International Boundary Studies Series, The Contested Maritime and Territorial Boundaries of Malaysia includes a chronological list of the main treaties, legislation, and related documents concerning the disputes discussed; an extensive bibliography of publications regarding the issues raised; and 23 maps, making it the most comprehensive reference work available on this subject.