PEDRA BRANCA DISPUTE
Pedra Branca, also known as Pulau Batu Puteh, is a small granite islet located 25 nautical miles east of Singapore and 7.7 nautical miles south of Johor, Malaysia. It is notable for housing the Horsburgh Lighthouse, which was constructed by the British between 1850 and 1851.
Despite its small size, Pedra Branca's significance lies in its impact on national sovereignty and maritime territorial boundaries. Singapore has administered Pedra Branca since the construction of the lighthouse. The islet was not explicitly mentioned in the 1824 Crawfurd Treaty, which ceded Singapore to the British East India Company by the Sultanate of Johor.
In 1979, Malaysia published a map claiming Pedra Branca as part of its territorial waters, which led to Singapore protesting the claim. Singapore proposed resolving the dispute through the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1989, and Malaysia agreed in 1994.
In 2008, the ICJ ruled that Pedra Branca belongs to Singapore, Middle Rocks to Malaysia, and the sovereignty of South Ledge depends on the surrounding territorial waters.