evidence: On 23 May 2008, the International court of justice (ICJ) ddetermined that sovereignty over Pedra Branca, the largest feature, rests with Singapore whilst Malaysia holds sovereignty over Middle Rocks. Interestingly, the Court did not specifically determine ownership of South Ledge, which is a Low Tide Elevation (LTE, see below). However, it can be logically assumed to be under Malaysian sovereignty as Malaysia holds sovereignty over the nearest feature. This settlement by the ICJ is an important decision that is likely to affect the delimitation of maritime boundaries in the Singapore Strait involving Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. [...] To take a positive view, the legal certainty concerning sovereignty over Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge is an essential requirement of maritime division in the Singapore Strait. Delimitation can only be conducted with the absence of dispute concerning ownership over islands/rocks because claims to maritime jurisdiction flow from sovereignty over land territory. This is similar to the pending of maritime delimitation in the Celebes Sea between Indonesia and Malaysia due to the disputed Sipadan and Ligitan Islands located in the maritime area. Similarly, the dispute of the Paracel and Spratly islands involving several states in Asia-Pacific has also been holding those States from delimiting their maritime boundaries in the South China Sea. Only when the sovereignty over relevant islands is undisputed, can maritime delimitation take place. Therefore, the legal certainty of Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge in the aftermath of the ICJ's decision has removed a major obstacle for Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore to delimit their maritime boundaries in the Singapore Strait.