Thailand to join patrols of Malacca Strait to help boost maritime security

BANGKOK (AP) - Thailand wants to join three other Southeast Asian countries to patrol the Strait of Malacca in an effort to prevent terrorist and pirate attacks, the Thai prime minister said Saturday.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore already run coordinated sea patrols in the strait, through which about 65,000 vessels pass through each year, carrying half the world's oil and more than a third of its commerce.

Thailand, which has taken part in anti-piracy exercises with the other countries, has long talked of joining the patrols.

"Thailand will help take care of security in the Strait of Malacca by joining the patrol," Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said in a weekly televised address after his return from an official visit to Malaysia. He did not say when Thailand might join the patrols.

It was unclear how the other three governments would receive Thailand's offer, given that Malaysia and Indonesia have repeatedly expressed fears that joint operations could impinge on their territorial integrity.

Spokesmen for the three governments could not be immediately reached for comment.

The Strait of Malacca _ which runs between Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore and past part of southern Thailand _ is notorious for sea piracy.

However, the number of attacks has fallen since Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia launched coordinated maritime patrols in 2004 and air patrols a year later.

The joint patrols were launched after U.S. leaders voiced concerns about terrorists teaming up with pirates in the region to turn ships into floating bombs.