Jakarta, April 23 -- The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono, has stated that Indonesia will not impose tariffs in the Malacca Strait, as such a policy would be inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He made the statement during a brief interview here on Thursday in response to journalists' questions about whether Indonesia would introduce tariffs for vessels passing through the strait.

Sugiono emphasized that Indonesia respects international law, including UNCLOS. According to him, UNCLOS recognizes Indonesia as an archipelagic state on the condition that it does not impose tariffs on straits within its territory.

He also stressed that Indonesia supports freedom of navigation and ex...