Japan Plans Mapping of Five Strategic Southeast Asian Sea Routes to Bolster Energy and Economic Security | WPN World People News

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to launch a hydrographic mapping project covering key maritime chokepoints along Southeast Asia's sea lines of communication (SLOCs). Working with neighboring countries, Japan aims to produce high-precision nautical charts for five strategically important straits to enhance the safety of maritime transportation that underpins the country's economy.

The targeted waterways include the Molucca Strait and Ombai Strait in eastern Indonesia, the Sunda Strait in western Indonesia, the Surigao Strait in the Philippines, and the Balabac Strait in the southern Philippines. Each survey area will cover approximately 100 square kilometers. In addition to hydrographic surveys and seabed mapping, the project will include the installation of navigational aids. Upon completion, the nautical charts are expected to be made publicly available by the coastal states.

According to reports, Japan has drawn lessons from the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which was at one point effectively brought to a standstill because of heightened regional tensions. In response, Tokyo has sought to diversify Southeast Asia's maritime transport routes during peacetime to reduce its dependence on any single shipping corridor.

The project will conduct detailed bathymetric surveys and navigation channel mapping in the Molucca Strait, Ombai Strait, Sunda Strait, Surigao Strait and Balabac Strait. Covering about 100 square kilometers around each strait, the surveys will produce high-resolution nautical charts that provide more comprehensive navigation data for commercial vessels.

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates that each survey area will cost around ¥400 million (approximately NT$79.8 million), bringing the total cost for the five locations to roughly ¥2 billion (about NT$390 million). The Japanese government plans to finance the initiative through its Official Development Assistance (ODA) grant aid program in cooperation with the Philippines, Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The necessary funding is expected to be included in the initial budget for the next fiscal year.

The project comes as concerns over global energy transportation security continue to grow. With the Strait of Hormuz facing an increased risk of shipping disruptions due to regional instability, Japan is reassessing the resilience of its energy import routes and seeking to establish alternative maritime corridors to avoid excessive reliance on a single chokepoint.

In recent years, Japanese companies have also urged the government to improve hydrographic surveys and maritime infrastructure across these strategic waterways, arguing that more accurate nautical charts and better navigation facilities would strengthen maritime safety and enhance supply chain resilience.