PM ANWAR REAFFIRMS MALAYSIA’S RIGHTS TO SOUTH CHINA SEA OIL EXPLORATION AMIDST CHINA PROTESTS

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with the Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Russkiy Islands. [4 September 2024].

Thu 05 September 2024:

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Thursday that the country will continue its oil and gas exploration activities in the South China Sea, despite China’s claims of territorial infringement. Speaking from Russia during an official visit, Anwar emphasized that Malaysia’s exploration is conducted within its own territory and is not intended as a provocation towards China, with whom Malaysia maintains friendly relations.

“Of course, we will have to operate in our waters and secure economic advantage, including drilling for oil, in our territory,” Anwar said in a press conference from Vladivostok. He added that Malaysia has not ruled out the possibility of discussions with China but clarified, “it doesn’t mean we have to stop the operation in our area.”

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Diplomatic Tensions Over Leaked Chinese Note

Tensions escalated after a classified diplomatic note from China’s Foreign Ministry was leaked, with Beijing claiming that Malaysia’s exploration activities violated Chinese territorial claims. Malaysia’s foreign ministry has launched an investigation into the leak, which was reported by a Philippine news outlet.

China asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of several nations, including Malaysia. However, under international law, EEZs grant sovereign rights to resources but do not establish full sovereignty. Despite China’s protests, Malaysian state energy firm Petronas continues to operate oil and gas fields within Malaysia’s EEZ.

Diplomacy and Disputes: Malaysia’s Stance

Anwar acknowledged that China had sent “one or two” protest notes urging Malaysia to halt its oil exploration. He reaffirmed that Malaysia would not violate any country’s borders, stating, “They know our position… They have claimed that we are infringing on their territory. That is not the case. We say no, it is our territory.”

Anwar concluded by expressing openness to continued dialogue, stating, “If they continue with the dispute, then okay, we will have to listen, and they will have to listen.”

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled that China’s expansive claims over the South China Sea, marked by a “nine-dash line,” had no legal basis under international law. Despite the ruling, China has refused to recognize the decision.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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