Infinitos Mundos

As global trade increases, as does the need for maintenance and regulation of some of the key waterways in the world. Top among these is the Strait of Malacca, which lies squarely within the territorial waters of Majapahit. As such, the Nusantaran government has decided to impose new regulations on ships travelling through the straits, in order to both facilitate passage through the straits, and to ensure safety of all involved. These regulations also serve the dual purpose of meeting the defensive needs of Majapahit. The new regulations are as follows:

• All commercial vessels travelling through the Malacca Strait, or any other strait within Nusantaran territorial waters will be required to submit a complete ship inventory prior to entry.
• All commercial vessels will be required to pay a 0.1% tariff on all goods listed within said inventory. This money is for the security and defense of the straits, as well as to support the maintenance and conservation of the straits.
• All vessels will also be required to submit a passage plan outlining the route of their voyage through the strait prior to entry into the straits. Vessels are expected to follow this plan. The purpose of this requirement is the continued safety of the passage. A computer network containing the passage plans will be maintained and available to all ships during passage, in order to prevent collisions and to expedite travel through the region. This network will be regularly monitored for signs of hacking.
• Commercial vessels whose final destination is Majapahit are exempt from the tariff requirements.
• There are no restrictions for commercial vessels seeking to dock temporarily in a Nusantaran port, provided they plan on continuing through the straits afterwards, they submit an updated travel passage upon making the decision, and that they pay any required docking fees.
• Random inspections of vessels will be carried out at the discretion of the Nusantaran Naval Authority. This is to prevent vessels from providing false information and to discourage piracy in the straits.
• Any vessel found to have submitted false information in either their inventory or passage plan will be subject to fines.
• Any vessel suspected of, or caught committing piracy within the straits will be subject to fines and disciplinary actions.

• Military vessels seeking passage through the strait are subject to more significant regulations due to their militaristic nature:
  • Vessels must provide a complete passage plan prior to entry.
  • Vessels must seek permission to transit through Nusantaran waters prior to entry.
  • Vessels are forbidden from performing military actions while within Nusantaran waters.
  • Vessels much pay a fee of at least 500,000 US dollars for passage. This is per vessel.
  • Vessels are prohibited from landing at port while travelling through Nusantaran waters, without prior approval from the Nusantaran government.
  • Vessels carrying nuclear weapons must report their payload prior to entry into Nusantaran waters.
  • The Nusantaran government reserves the right to refuse entry to military vessels at any time.
  • Any military vessel caught performing covert operations while inside Nusantaran waters will be subject to disciplinary actions.
  • Vessels are not permitted to deviate from their submitted passage plan unless under extenuating circumstances (such as an onboard fire or malfunction). If the circumstances are believed to be fraudulent, vessels will be subject to disciplinary actions.
  • Vessels may be subject to monitoring by the Nusantaran military at any time, without compensation.
  • Vessels may be subject to additional regulations at the discretion of the Nusantaran Naval Authority.

The Nusantaran government also announces that the Strait of Malacca, and South China Sea within Nusantaran waters will be regularly patrolled to discourage piracy, and for the protection of those travelling through the waters. The Nusantaran Naval Authority will also receive a significant boost to funding, in order to help manage and maintain the straits, paid for by the new tariffs. A new headquarters for the Nusantaran Naval Authority will also be constructed in Singapore.

The Australian government puts in a formal protest regarding the dues owed by any military vessels passing through Mahapajit waters. Such a move is exorbitant considering the other measures being put in place to restrict transit through some of the busiest waterways in the world. On all other points, the Australian Government accepts the reasonableness of the restrictions.

The government also questions whether the same restrictions will be placed upon vessels invited for joint exercises or port visits.

The Australian protest is recognized, and in response the Nusantaran government reviews the points raised, and after some debate, several amendments are proposed. A copy is securely 'leaked' to the Australians, prior to the vote in parliament.

• The cost per military vessel is changed to a yearly pass per vessel, being 360,000 US dollars (1,000 per day).
• This pass can be revoked if the nation in question displays militaristic tendencies that threaten the safety and security of SEA, if the vessels themselves cause mischief while within Nusantaran waters, or if there is a diplomatic falling out between the nation in question and Majapahit. If the pass is revoked, the nation will be refunded for the remaining time in the year.
• More affordable passes can be negotiated for nations who wish to send a larger fleet through the region.
• Nations who would be reasonably expected to transit the pass on a regular basis (such as Siam), will be exempt from paying fees, provided they abide by the other regulations. This is at the discretion of the Nusantaran Naval Authorities.
• Allied nations are exempt from most regulations for military vessels.
• Vessels participating in joint exercises or port visits will be exempt from most regulations, due to their presumed nature as part of allied states.

The secure 'leak' that the Australians would acquire would also include a way for them to privately send feedback, as well as hints of hoped friendship and cooperation between their two nations.

The Department of Defence sends a covert response to the "leak", stating that these amendments appear much more reasonable and that the Australian government is amenable to cooperation in such matters.

Completely unrelated to the Australian's covert response, a few days later the amendments are passed into law and the updated military Strait Regulations are publicly announced and made available to all.

• Vessels must provide a complete passage plan prior to entry.
• Vessels must seek permission to transit through Nusantaran waters prior to entry.
• Vessels are forbidden from performing military actions while within Nusantaran waters.
• Vessels are prohibited from landing at port while travelling through Nusantaran waters, without prior approval from the Nusantaran government.
• Vessels carrying nuclear weapons must report their payload prior to entry into Nusantaran waters.
• The Nusantaran government reserves the right to refuse entry to military vessels at any time.
• Any military vessel caught performing covert operations while inside Nusantaran waters will be subject to disciplinary actions.
• Vessels are not permitted to deviate from their submitted passage plan unless under extenuating circumstances (such as an onboard fire or malfunction). If the circumstances are believed to be fraudulent, vessels will be subject to disciplinary actions.
• Vessels may be subject to monitoring by the Nusantaran military at any time, without compensation.
• Vessels may be subject to additional regulations at the discretion of the Nusantaran Naval Authority.
• Vessels must purchase a yearly pass, being 360,000 US dollars (1,000 per day) per vessel.
• This pass can be revoked if the nation in question displays militaristic tendencies that threaten the safety and security of SEA, if the vessels themselves cause mischief while within Nusantaran waters, or if there is a diplomatic falling out between the nation in question and Majapahit. If the pass is revoked, the nation will be refunded for the remaining time in the year.
• More affordable passes can be negotiated for nations who wish to send a larger fleet through the region.
• Nations who would be reasonably expected to transit the pass on a regular basis (such as Siam), will be exempt from paying fees, provided they abide by the other regulations. This is at the discretion of the Nusantaran Naval Authorities.
• Allied nations are exempt from most regulations for military vessels.
• Vessels participating in joint exercises or port visits will be exempt from most regulations, due to their presumed nature as part of allied states.