Kuala Lumpur rejected Wednesday a new Chinese map that claims waters off Malaysia's coast in the South China Sea, in the latest war of words between the Asian allies over Beijing's assertiveness in the waterway.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea -- through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually -- despite an international court ruling that Beijing's entitlement has no legal basis.
Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei also have overlapping claims in parts of the sea, while the United States sends naval vessels through it to assert freedom of navigation in international waters.
China released a "standard map" this week that included its unilateral claims in the sea, which overlap with Malaysia's exclusive economic zone off the coast of the Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo island.
"Malaysia does not recognise China's claims in the South China Sea, as outlined in the 'China Standard Map 2023 Edition' which covers Malaysia's maritime area," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Describing the South China Sea issue as "complex and sensitive", Kuala Lumpur said the dispute must be "handled peacefully and rationally through dialogue" based on international law.
Malaysia also said it supported the creation of a Code of Conduct for the sea, which Southeast Asian nations are currently negotiating.
Kuala Lumpur summoned Beijing's envoy in 2021 after Chinese vessels entered its exclusive economic zone.
Malaysia says the South China Sea area it claims north of Borneo island -- including five maritime features in the Spratly Islands chain -- falls within that zone.
In recent years, China has ramped up development of artificial islands and outfitted some with military facilities and runways.
Other Southeast Asian nations have also accused Chinese vessels of harassing their fishing boats.
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Defense Industry Analyst:
8/10
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6/10
General Industry Analyst:
7/10
Analyst Summary
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On Wednesday, Malaysia rejected a new Chinese map that claims waters off Malaysias coast in the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, despite an international court ruling that Beijings entitlement has no legal basis. In 2021, China released a standard map that included its unilateral claims in the sea, which overlap with Malaysias exclusive economic zone off the coast of the Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo island.
Describing the South China Sea issue as complex and sensitive, Kuala Lumpur said the dispute must be handled peacefully and rationally through dialogue based on international law. Malaysia also said it supported the creation of a Code of Conduct for the sea, which Southeast Asian nations are currently negotiating. In recent years, China has ramped up development of artificial islands and outfitted some with military facilities and runways. Other Southeast Asian nations have also accused Chinese vessels of harassing their fishing boats.
This article highlights the current tension between Malaysia and China over the South China Sea, which has been a contentious issue in the region for the past 25 years. Over the years, China has continued to assert its sovereignty over the South China Sea, while Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations have disputed its claims. This dispute has led to increased militarization of the region, with China developing artificial islands and outfitting them with military facilities and runways.
Investigative
Question:
- 1. What long-term strategies is China pursuing in the South China Sea to assert its sovereignty?
- 2. How have recent military developments in the region impacted the security of Southeast Asian nations?
- 3.
What are the economic implications of the South China Sea dispute for China and Malaysia?4. How have regional relationships between China and Southeast Asian nations been impacted by the ongoing dispute?
5. What potential solutions are being discussed to resolve the South China Sea dispute?
This AI report is generated by a sophisticated prompt to a ChatGPT API. Our editors clean text for presentation, but preserve AI thought for our collective observation. Please comment and ask questions about AI use by Spacedaily. We appreciate your support and contribution to better trade news.
