The South China Sea Code of Conduct is a framework for safe navigation, not for resolving territorial disputes, says Malaysia’s foreign minister
KUALA LUMPUR: The South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC), expected to be finalised this year, is not an instrument for resolving territorial disputes.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the COC is instead a framework to ensure the waters remain a safe, free and peaceful trade route for all parties.
He said territorial disputes must be resolved through bilateral or multilateral negotiations.
The COC’s role is to set principles of conduct and confidence-building measures to prevent tensions in the area.
“Malaysia is the country coordinator together with China. We have worked and have conducted what is known as the Rapid Discussion Group and the Joint Working Group on COC,” he said during the Ministers’ Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.
“I am confident many terms in the COC have been agreed upon,” he added.
Mohamad was responding to a question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) on the latest developments in COC negotiations.
The query also covered Malaysia’s role and the security situation in the waters of Batu Puteh.
He stated that key components of these documents include principles of conduct, confidence-building measures, and safe restraint approaches to prevent actions that escalate tensions.
Mohamad added that military exercises in the South China Sea will continue regularly through bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
He stressed these exercises are not intended as provocations against any nation, as regional maritime stability remains a priority for Malaysia.
“Conducting an exercise with one country to show provocation to another is not our agenda. We need peaceful conditions in our waters,” he said.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PN-Pasir Puteh) regarding Malaysia’s direction if military exercises are held in those waters.
The minister also addressed government actions to handle vessel intrusions and whether Malaysia has set a ‘red line’ in the COC negotiations.
Mohamad confirmed Malaysia may conduct exercises in the waters, noting this is not new and is not focused on a single country.
Such exercises involve naval and air operations, including joint training as needed.
On the South China Sea COC negotiations, Mohamad reported the process has achieved significant progress with nearly 70% of the content resolved.
He said careful negotiation is still required to ensure national sovereignty is not compromised.
