India and China Strategic Interests in the Straits of Malacca

The Straits of Malacca is located between the east coast of Sumatra and the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, stretches for about 520 miles. The Strait of Singapore, about 100 miles long, is located between south of the island of Singapore and south eastern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, and north of Indonesian Riau islands. At its- western entrance, the Malacca Straits is spacious and the littoral coasts of Indonesia, Malaysia are separated by about 200 miles of water. The straits, however, begin to take on the shape of a funnel as vessels proceed through it in a southeasterly direction.