The Philippines plans to force all vessels to use designated sea lanes along the borders with Malaysia and Indonesia to deny militants easy access to its restive areas, the defence secretary said on Monday, Reuters reported. Avelino Cruz said the Australian government was also helping Manila establish a coastal watch system in the southern Philippines to improve border controls around its 7,100 islands. "Our Philippine Navy and Coast Guard ships would board and inspect all vessels and watercraft that would be passing outside a delineated maritime route," Cruz told a briefing for foreign journalists. "We would be putting up a system to monitor all ships in the area." At more than 36,000 km (22,300 miles) long, the Philippine coastline is seen as a weak link in the Asian war on terror with militants exploiting a multitude of private inlets and the navy's lack of equipment to evade capture. Cruz said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had discussed the counter-terrorism plan with the leaders of Malaysia and Indonesia leaders during a summit meeting last December in Kuala Lumpur. The three countries were also planning to step up maritime security along the lines implemented by Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the United States in the narrow Malacca Straits.
