The proposal suggests that “shipping companies and other users recognise their corporate social responsibility towards the promotion of navigational safety and environmental protection of the Straits and voluntarily provide the necessary assistance to the littoral states.”

Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of The Nippon Foundation, said: “If users paid just 1¢ per deadweight ton of shipping, $40m would be raised each year. This revenue would eliminate the excessive and unfair burden born entirely by the littoral states, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

“Such a system would guarantee that those who profit most from the waterway – the users – would help to pay for the maintenance of navigational safety.”