Hishammuddin talks to Chinese defence minister on safe and free seas
Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe held bilateral talks yesterday, a day after reports of a Chinese government exploration vessel was spotted off the coast of Sabah.
Hishammuddin said he had told Wei of Malaysia's position that all parties must avoid military provocation which can raise tensions and cause conflict in the South China Sea.
"The South China Sea must...
Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe held bilateral talks yesterday, a day after reports of a Chinese government exploration vessel was spotted off the coast of Sabah.
Hishammuddin said he had told Wei of Malaysia's position that all parties must avoid military provocation which can raise tensions and cause conflict in the South China Sea.
"The South China Sea must remain free and safe," said Hishammuddin on his Facebook page yesterday.
According to the China Embassy in Malaysia's Facebook page, Wei conveyed that China was ready to work with Malaysia to "oppose hegemonism and power politics".
China also vowed to "strengthen communication and properly handle differences on the South China Sea issue, jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and inject more positive energy into the turbulent world".
Wei also proposed that China and Malaysia maintain high-level contacts and promote cooperation.
On Sept 26, Malaysiakini reported that a Da Yang Hao - owned by China's Natural Resources Ministry - was detected 140km off the coast of Labuan and within Malaysia's Exclusive Economic Zone.
The Da Yang Hao has been described as an oceanographic research vessel, capable of surveying the seafloor and conducting research on resource exploitation.
At the time of writing, Putrajaya has not commented on the matter.
Previously, China military aircraft had flown close to Malaysian airspace and did not respond to air traffic controllers in Kota Kinabalu, prompting the Royal Malaysian Air Force to scramble jets.
China has also maintained a near-constant presence at the Luconia Shoals located within Malaysia's EEZ off the coast of Sarawak.
China's claim over the South China Sea has overlapped with Malaysia's EEZ and that of several neighbouring countries.
In recent years, China has been maintaining a presence in claimed territories, prompting tensions with neighbours.
