evidence: Pedra Branca is an outlying island situated about 24 nautical miles (45 km) to the east of mainland Singapore.1 It is located at the eastern entrance of the Singapore Strait, from the South China Sea.2 The island is a reef of light grey granite, although corals have encrusted those areas below sea level.3 Horsburgh Lighthouse, the first lighthouse built in Singapore, sits on a solitary rock on the island.4 [...] On 21 December 1979, Malaysia published a new map marking the boundaries of its territorial waters and continental shelf, and claimed for the first time that Pedra Branca was Malaysian territory. Singapore formally protested the map in February 1980, with a diplomatic note requesting amendments to the map.19 Some 14 years of tension ensued until the two countries agreed to submit the dispute to the International Court of Justice in 1994. The formal agreement to do so, however, was signed only a decade later on 24 July 2003.20 The case was recorded by the International Court of Justice as "Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge".21 It was debated by the court from 2004 to 2007.22 Judgement was passed on 23 May 2008. The court ruled Pedra Branca as belonging to Singapore, while Middle Rocks – a nearby pair of small rocks permanently above water – was pronounced as part of Malaysia.23