Speeches & Statements Speeches & Statements

PRESS STATEMENT

SOUTH CHINA SEA

YB DATO’ SERI HISHAMMUDDIN TUN HUSSEIN
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

WISMA PUTRA, 23 APRIL 2020

 

1. Malaysia’s position on the South China Sea is clear and consistent. Due to the complexity and sensitivity of the issue, all parties must work together to maintain peace, security and stability in the South China Sea and increase efforts to build, maintain and enhance mutual trust and confidence.
    
2. Malaysia remains firm in its commitment to safeguard its interests and rights in the South China Sea.
    
3. Malaysia holds the view that the South China Sea should remain a sea of peace and trade. Thus, matters relating to the South China Sea must be resolved peacefully based on the principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
    
4. As a former Minister of Defence – I am deeply aware and conscious of the situation. We must avoid unintended, accidental incidents in these waters. While international law guarantees the freedom of navigation, the presence of warships and vessels in the South China Sea has the potential to increase tensions that in turn may result in miscalculations which may affect peace, security and stability in the region.
    
5. Our stance is that any disputes should be resolved amicably through peaceful means, diplomacy and mutual trust by all the concerned parties. Just because we have not made a public statement on this does not mean we have not been working on all the above mentioned, we have open and continuous communication with all relevant parties, including the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America.

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