Malaysia emphasizes that the South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) is not a tool for resolving territorial disputes, but rather a framework to ensure that the South China Sea remains safe, free, and a peaceful trade passageway for all parties.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that territorial disputes should be resolved through bilateral or multilateral negotiations, while the role of the COC is to establish principles of conduct and build confidence measures to prevent tensions in the region.
“The COC is not a tool for resolving territorial disputes; it does not concern overlapping maritime areas. Issues of overlapping maritime claims should be resolved through bilateral or multilateral means.”
“The COC is a framework, with its core purpose being to ensure that the South China Sea is a free sea, accessible to all parties, a commercial sea, and always a safe maritime area for everyone.”
Mohamad Hasan said this today (22nd) during the Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, in response to a question from Barisan Nasional Tampin MP Datuk Mohd Isam regarding the latest progress in COC negotiations, Malaysia’s role, the security situation in the Batu Puteh waters, and measures taken by the government.
He said ASEAN regards two texts as the common foundation for managing the South China Sea, namely the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) signed in 2002, and the negotiations toward finalising the COC.
He pointed out that the main content of these two texts includes the principles and objectives of conduct among South China Sea parties, as well as establishing confidence-building measures and guidelines for restraint, to ensure that no actions will trigger tensions.
Mohamad Hasan stated that Malaysia will continue to cooperate through bilateral and multilateral means, regularly conducting military exercises in the South China Sea, but not to provoke any country, as regional maritime stability remains a top priority for maritime nations.
He said that Malaysia may conduct military exercises in the South China Sea, and this is not something new; such exercises are not focused on a single country, and include both maritime and aerial operations, with joint exercises to be held if necessary.
“Conducting joint exercises with one country to provoke another is not on our agenda. What we need is the peace and stability of the maritime area.”
He was responding to an additional question from Perikatan Nasional Pasir Putih MP Datuk Nik Muhammad Zawawi, who asked about Malaysia’s stance if military exercises take place in the relevant maritime area, how the government would respond to unauthorized vessel entry, and whether Malaysia has set red lines in COC negotiations.
Regarding COC negotiations, Mohamad Hasan said talks have made significant progress, with nearly seventy percent of the content drafted, but careful negotiation is still needed to ensure national sovereignty is not compromised.