The South China Sea dispute has been a longstanding issue between multiple countries, with Malaysia being one of the claimants. Recently, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin made remarks about the dispute that sparked controversy and confusion. In response, the Malaysian government has issued a statement to clarify the PM’s stance on the matter. This article will delve into the details of the government’s clarification and its implications on the ongoing dispute.
Malaysia’s government has come under scrutiny following comments made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over the country’s stance on the South China Sea territorial dispute. The opposition leader accused the Prime Minister of softening Malaysia’s position on the issue after he stated that Malaysia was “prepared to negotiate” with China over its rights to explore natural resources in the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement in response, clarifying that Malaysia’s position on the South China Sea “remains unchanged,” and that the government is committed to protecting the country’s sovereignty and interests in its maritime areas in the South China Sea, in accordance with internationally recognised principles of law.
The South China Sea is a hotly contested waterway, and China has claimed almost the entire area, including waters within the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Several ASEAN states have accused China of impeding and harassing their oil and gas activities in areas within their exclusive economic zones that also fall within China’s nine-dash line, which Beijing uses to claim “historic rights” to almost 90% of the South China Sea. In 2016, a U.N. tribunal declared this imaginary boundary as illegal, in a case brought by the Philippines. The dispute remains a significant source of tension between China and the ASEAN nations.
Analysts have cautioned against China’s bilateral approach, in which Beijing seeks to “divide and conquer” members of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN when it comes to South China Sea disputes, using its superior economic weight. China has used official state visits by President Marcos Jr. of the Philippines in January and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in April to press its claims in the South China Sea and to call for bilateral discussions.
During his recent visit to China, the Prime Minister stated that he had informed Chinese President Xi Jinping that, as a small country, Malaysia needed to continue with oil exploration in the waters of its exclusive economic zone. He added that if negotiations were necessary to secure Malaysia’s rights in the area, the country was “prepared to negotiate” with China. The comment was criticised at home and abroad for appearing to indicate a shift in Malaysia’s stance on the issue. The Prime Minister subsequently clarified his position, saying that Malaysia’s exploration efforts would continue, and the area belonged within Malaysia’s territory. He underlined that the issue should be resolved peacefully and constructively, without compromising Malaysia’s principled position, to avoid any escalation of disputes and the threat or use of force.
Malaysia’s 1979 Map, issued by the Malaysian Department of Mapping and Survey, has served as the official reference for the country’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. The government remains committed to protecting its sovereignty and sovereign rights in the region, in line with international law.
