Malaysia Splits With Asean Claimants on China Sea Threat

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — Malaysia differed with fellow Southeast
Asian claimants in the South China Sea on the threat posed by China,
dismissing concerns about patrols off its coast .

Malaysia is not worried about how often Chinese ships patrol the
areas it claims in the waters , Defence Minister Datuk Seri
Hishammuddin Hussein said in an interview in Brunei yesterday.

Chinese Navy ships in March visited James Shoal, off Malaysia , near
where Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Petronas have oil and gas
operations .

“Just because you have enemies, doesn ’t mean your enemies are my
enemies,” Hishammuddin said on the sidelines of meetings with
counterparts from Asean as well as the US, China and Japan . The
Chinese “can patrol every day , but if their intention is not to go to
war ” it is of less concern , he said. “I think we have enough level of
trust that we will not be moved by day -to- day politics or emotions. ”

Malaysia is one of six claimants to land features in the South China
Sea, an area where competition for gas and fish has led to boats
being rammed and survey cables cut. The Philippines and Vietnam
reject China ’s map of the sea , first published in the 1940s, as a basis
for joint exploration.

Malaysia could consider collaborating on the development
of oil and gas resources with China in the area,
Hishammuddin said.

“Provided our friends in Asean know, those who have an
interest in the region know, and if they want to object, I
would like to know why ?” Hishammuddin said. “If they ’re
just objecting for the sake of objecting , that doesn ’t make
sense.”

China National Offshore Oil Corp estimates the South
China Sea may hold about five times more undiscovered
natural gas than the country’ s current proved reserves,
according to the US Energy Information Administration.

In June , Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak called for parties to
jointly develop resources to avoid conflict and prevent “extra - regional
states ” from becoming involved .

Najib cited a joint development zone in waters claimed by Thailand
and Malaysia as a precedent that could be applied in the South China
Sea. China has agreed to talks on a code of conduct for the area, with
discussions to begin in September .

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel is meeting Hishammuddin today ,
alongside defence ministers from Asean , China, Japan and South
Korea, for the second ADMM - Plus security summit.

Host Brunei , which claims some of the South China Sea, has
suggested setting up a hotline to address disputes in the waters , said
a senior US defence official who can ’ t be named according to
government policy . That proposal has been under discussion for some
months with Asean talking about other ways to avert conflict, such as
no first use of force and holding exercises on avoiding collisions at
sea, the official said.

Hagel will visit Vietnam next year at the invitation of Vietnam ’s
defence minister , according to the US official . Hagel also met his
counterpart from Myanmar for talks in Brunei yesterday , the first
meeting of top defence figures from the two countries in 20 years, the
official said. — Bloomberg

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