Pedra Blanca belongs to Singapore
Friday, 23rd May 2008
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague in the Netherlands has awarded sovereignty of Pedra Branca island to Singapore, while the sovereignty of Middle Rocks has been awarded to Malaysia. The UN court ruled by 12 votes to four that sovereignty belonged to the Republic of Singapore. The island is a granite rock that hosts a strategic lighthouse in the Singapore Straits that has guided ships for hundreds of years. The football field-sized island, known as Pulau Batu Puteh in Malaysia, is valued for its strategic position. Pedra Blanca commands the entire eastern approach to the Straits of Singapore, through which almost 900 ships pass daily. This judgement concludes the 28-year dispute with Malaysia.