Malaysia has proposed a series of agreements with neighboring countries to avoid unintended incidents at sea. The agreements would cover ways by which navies patrolling adjoining regions would advise each other of their schedules and establish means to recognize and contact each other. The agreements would also require both sides to back away from any possible confrontation to avoid situations in which one ship might, during a time of tension, misunderstand the actions or intentions of a foreign ship.--Stephen V Cole