Pandaruan Bridge is Falling Down

Ties have never been this strained before between the neighbouring countries of Brunei and Malaysia. Suporno Chaudhury, reporting from United Nations Security Council (UNSC), writes.

Cartoon by Suporno Chaudhury, depicting the Pandaruan Bridge, commonly known as the Open-Friendship Bridge between Brunei and Malaysia

"The Delegate of Malaysia would like to make it clear that Malaysia does not have any overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea as of now."

Even before the Delegate sat down the United Nations Security Council had erupted in chaos.

Malaysia lays claim to a total of 200 miles in the South China Sea of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as submitted jointly with Vietnam to United Nations Convention of Oceans and Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a claim which has always been very fiercely contested by the country of Brunei. The 1982 UNCLOS was signed by Brunei, declaring the maritime feautures of Bombay Castle, Louisa Reef, Owen Shoal, and Rifleman Bank of the Spratly Island chain as its EEZ. Amongst these Louisa Reef is a oval shaped coral reef located in the southern side of the Spratley Islands, both Malaysia and Brunei lay claim to it in accordance to their continental shelves.

As the resource dependancy of the adjoining countries continue to increase on the South China Sea, the countries are eyeing each other's claims with increasing suspicion; the same seemed to reflect in the proceedings. The Delegate of Brunei demanded a Right to Reply almost immediately, which was granted by the Vice President. The Delegate went on to state emotionally, "Brunei takes deep offense as a country, as a member of UN as well, we have been disregarded as a nation in terms of territory claims under the UNCLOS, Malaysia has dirsregarded our claims."; the council continued to heed them with stunned silence.

Malaysia and Brunei have a history of strong trade ties, with a 31% percent jump only in the year of 2014, shared contracts on 600 million United States of Ameria Dollars, and increasingly stronger ties ever since the Brunei revolt of 1962.

The Delegate paused for a while, looked towards the Delegate representing Malaysia and asked for an apology to the country of Brunei, to which a firm refusal was issued as the official statement.

Map not drawn to scale. The dotted line represents Malaysia's claim, whereas the rectangular shaped box outlined with a straight line depicts Brunei's claim.

(Edited by Shruthi Subramanian)