THAILAND TURNED DOWN A MALAYSIAN REQUEST ON FRIDAY TO JOIN IN REGIONAL PATROLS OF THE MALACCA STRAIT, DEEMED BY INTERNATIONAL INSURERS A "WAR RISK" ZONE, AS TOO EXPENSIVE, A MILITARY CHIEF SAID, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THAI ARMED FORCES CHIEF GENERAL RUENGROJ MAHASARANOND TOLD HIS MALAYSIAN COUNTERPART ADMIRAL ANWAR MOHAMAD NORTHAT BANGKOK FELT DISTANT FROM THE STRAIT, WHICH LINKS ASIA WITH THE MIDDLE EAST AND EUROPE AND CARRIES SOME 40 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S TRADE. "IT IS VERY FAR FROM US," RUENGROJ TOLD REPORTERS AFTER THE MEETING IN BANGKOK. "IT IS NOT WORTH SENDING OUR SHIPS AND PLANES THERE BECAUSE THE COSTS WILL BE EXTRAORDINARY." MALAYSIA, WHICH FORMALLY ESTABLISHED A COAST GUARD IN MARCH, FACES THE BIGGEST MARITIME THREAT OF PIRACY ON ITS SIDE OF THE STRAIT, THROUGH WHICH 80 PERCENT OF THE ENERGY SUPPLIES OF JAPAN AND CHINA ARE SHIPPED.
