Bogor, W Java (ANTARA) – For days, a question rippled across global shipping lanes and diplomatic circles: would Indonesia follow Iran’s playbook and charge vessels crossing the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints?The speculation, amplified by international media, hinted at a dramatic shift in global trade norms. The Malacca Strait—linking the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea—handles a significant share of the world’s maritime commerce.Then came a clear answer from Jakarta.Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa firmly dismissed the idea, saying Indonesia has no plans to impose taxes or transit fees on foreign vessels passing through the strait.The statement was aimed at quelling reports that he had floated the proposal, which drew attention not only domestically but also from neighboring countries and global observers.“That was not in a serious context. We have never planned to collect such a tax,” Purbaya told reporters in Jakarta on Friday, putting an end to days of uncertainty.Behind his response lies a deeper legal framework that governs the world’s oceans.Purbaya pointed to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, a cornerstone of international maritime law that enshrines the principle of freedom of navigation.His familiarity with the convention is not merely theoretical. Between May 2018 and September 2020, Purbaya oversaw maritime sovereignty and energy coordination in a senior government role.That experience, he said, underscores Indonesia’s commitment to upholding international law in its waters, including the Malacca Strait, which is recognized as an international shipping lane.At the heart of UNCLOS is a simple but powerful rule: ships must be allowed to pass.“In terms of freedom of navigation, we are required to allow vessels through our exclusive economic zone and ensure their security,” Purbaya said, referring to Indonesia’s maritime obligations.He reiterated that Indonesia, having ratified UNCLOS, has no intention of breaching the agreement or undermining its principles.“We will uphold the law we have signed,” he said, emphasizing continuity over disruption.The clarification comes after lawmakers and regional stakeholders raised concerns about the potential fallout of such a policy.Malacca Strait not Suez canalTB Hasanuddin, a member of the House of Representatives' defense commission, warned earlier that the Malacca Strait cannot be compared to the Suez or Panama canals.Unlike those man-made waterways, he noted, the Malacca Strait is a natural passage that has long served as an open route for international navigation.Charging tolls in such waters, he argued, could ignite diplomatic tensions and damage Indonesia’s standing on the global stage.“The impact would go beyond reputation. It could trigger international backlash, even boycotts, for violating established maritime law,” Hasanuddin said.Legal provisions reinforce that concern.Under Article 38 of UNCLOS, vessels enjoy the right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation, without obstruction or interference from bordering states.Article 44 further obliges coastal nations not to hamper or delay transit, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of global shipping.These rules are not merely technicalities—they are the backbone of modern trade.Any attempt to impose tariffs, analysts say, risks clashing with those principles and unsettling a fragile global economy already strained by geopolitical tensions.Foreign Minister Sugiono echoed that stance, stating earlier that Indonesia would not impose tariffs in the Malacca Strait under any circumstances.He emphasized that Indonesia respects UNCLOS, which recognizes the country as an archipelagic state while requiring it to keep its straits open to international navigation.The Malacca Strait, governed by Articles 37, 38, and 39 of the convention, remains a lawful corridor for global shipping.Sugiono said Indonesia supports free and secure maritime passage, aiming to maintain smooth and mutually beneficial sea traffic.The government’s reassurances have been welcomed by foreign policy observers.Praising government's clarificationDino Patti Djalal, founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia, praised the clarification, calling it critical for preserving Indonesia’s credibility.“I appreciate the rejection of the idea to tax vessels in the Malacca Strait,” he said in a post on social media platform X.Had such a policy been pursued, he warned, it could have severely damaged Indonesia’s international image and its role as a key architect of UNCLOS.The timing, too, would have been problematic.Indonesia is preparing for a major ASEAN summit in Cebu, Philippines, in May, where President Prabowo Subianto is expected to attend alongside regional leaders.A controversial maritime policy could have overshadowed the gathering, inviting protests from neighboring countries and complicating diplomatic relations.Beyond diplomacy, the economic stakes are immense.The global shipping system remains vulnerable, with supply chains still adjusting to disruptions caused by conflicts, including those in the Middle East.Any additional friction in a critical artery like the Malacca Strait could ripple across energy markets, manufacturing hubs, and consumer prices worldwide.Dino underscored Indonesia’s reliance on UNCLOS as a legal foundation for its territorial integrity.The convention legitimizes the country’s archipelagic doctrine, granting sovereignty over waters that were once considered international seas.Undermining that framework, he suggested, would be a strategic misstep.He also urged government officials to exercise caution in public communication, particularly on sensitive issues with global implications.Policy ideas, he said, should be carefully coordinated across ministries and cleared at the highest levels before being aired publicly.For now, Indonesia’s message is unambiguous.There will be no toll booths in the Malacca Strait—only the continued flow of ships through one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors.