China’s Ministry of Transport has increased the security alert level for Chinese ships sailing through the Malacca Strait to level three, effective from July 2.
The level three ship navigation security alert is the highest level of its kind, and it is usually activated when there is the highest risk of attack.
The ministry only raised a level two security alert in the Middle East after several tankers were attacked off Fujairah in May.
A source in a state-run shipping company told that the alert was issued as the ministry believes an Indonesian Islamic armed group is planning attacks on Chinese ships.
“We do not currently believe this is a necessary requirement for other vessels and do not have any evidence of a specified threat to Chinese vessels,” Maritime security risk management specialist Dryad Global said in an update.
The ministry has requested all the relevant shipping companies to increase their security levels and will provide security information to Chinese ships in the region.
