South China Sea tensions: Are cruise ships in danger?

In the light of the tension between claimant states regarding islands in the South China Sea, it is not unforeseeable that something untoward might happen (“Beijing to hold new drills in S China Sea; will not halt construction”; July 19).

As a fan of cruise holidays, I am concerned that cruise ships — and there are many, in view of the burgeoning cruise industry in the region, including Singapore — might one day sail unwittingly into the path of military exercises.

When tensions run high, military drills in the sea might be launched at short notice. Cruise ship captains, whose minds are engaged primarily upon charting the most economical course, might be caught off-guard. This could have dire consequences.

Moreover, what they deem a safe area to sail might not match what military commanders have been told about what is rightly their territory. This danger may lurk for years as long as rivalry prevails in the South China Sea.

Just two years ago, an ill-fated Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down while flying over Ukraine. Cruise ship captains would be well advised to be on their toes while navigating their ships.