Malaysia Says It Does Not Recognise China S South China Sea Claims

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Federal Territories Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said Malaysia does not recognise China’s claims in the disputed waters and continues to act strictly in accordance with international law. - BERNAMA PICKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has reaffirmed its firm and consistent stance on the South China Sea, rejecting any foreign claims of sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction over its maritime features and areas as defined in the nation's 1979 New Map.
Federal Territories Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said Malaysia does not recognise China's claims in the disputed waters and continues to act strictly in accordance with international law.
"Malaysia does not recognise China's claims in the South China Sea. The government's position is based on our 1979 New Map, which defines Malaysia's maritime boundaries," she said in a written parliamentary reply to William Leong Jee Keen (PH–Selayang).
"The South China Sea issue is complex and sensitive, and must be handled peacefully and rationally through dialogue and negotiations grounded in international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982)," she added.
Malaysia occupies Layang-Layang Island, also known as Swallow Reef, which lies within the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
The country maintains a naval presence on the island and has developed the Layang Layang Island Resort, a seasonal diving retreat popular with scuba divers drawn by the area's clear waters and diverse marine life.
The South China Sea has long been a source of tension, with several nations laying overlapping claims to its islands, reefs and surrounding waters. The sea is one of the world's busiest trade routes and is believed to hold vast reserves of oil, gas and other natural resources.
China claims almost the entire waterway under its "nine-dash line", asserting historical rights that extend deep into areas also claimed by Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan.
In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled that China's claims had no legal basis under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, a decision Beijing rejected.
The dispute has led to repeated confrontations involving coastguards, fishing fleets and naval patrols.
Meanwhile Dr Zaliha said the creation of a bilateral platform between Malaysia and China was aimed at providing an official avenue to express views and discuss issues concerning the South China Sea, including practical maritime cooperation and safety between both countries.
However, she said that the platform was not intended to resolve sovereignty or maritime boundary disputes, but rather to enhance bilateral cooperation and contribute to preventive diplomacy to avert conflict.
Dr Zaliha said any matters concerning the South China Sea must be managed carefully by all parties to avoid escalation or tension on the ground.
"This platform ensures that Malaysia has a proper channel to engage and cooperate with China, which is also one of the claimant states in the South China Sea.
"The purpose is not to settle sovereignty or boundary claims, but to promote cooperation and prevent tensions from arising," Dr Zaliha added. - FMT

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