Anifah: Sea claims must be addressed peacefully

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Malaysia has reiterated that the overlapping claims in the South China Sea should be addressed through peaceful means in accordance with international law.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Brunei, the Philippines, Vietnam and China have claimed maritime areas and features in the South China Sea, which overlapped with Malaysia’s claims off the coast of Sabah and Sarawak.

“China’s claim in the South China Sea is outlined by a unilaterally drawn ‘nine-dash line' that includes almost the entirety of Malaysia’s maritime areas off the coast of Sabah and Sarawak.

“Malaysia does not recognise China’s claims as outlined by the nine-dash line because it is inconsistent with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS).

“Malaysia reaffirms the impor- tance of maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation in and of flights over the South China Sea,” he said in his talk on “Issues and Challenges in Managing Malaysia’s Foreign Relations” at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) yesterday.

He said Malaysia emphasised the need for all parties to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety; to build, maintain and enhance mutual trust and confidence; exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities; to not resort to threat or use of force; and for the parties concerned to resolve their differences and disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with international laws including UNCLOS 1982.

He said Malaysia wanted consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to be intensified. — Bernama