Chinese and Philippine forces again avoid a clash in a fiercely disputed shoal under a rare deal

MANILA, Philippines (AP): The Philippine navy transported food and other supplies to a territorial ship outpost in a shoal in the South China Sea without any confrontation with Chinese forces guarding the disputed area, officials said Friday. The Philippine delivery of supplies and military personnel on Thursday to the Second Thomas Shoal was the third such...

Malaysia complains to Vietnam over South China Sea reef expansion, sources say

HANOI/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia has sent a complaint letter to Vietnam over its alleged expansion of a South China Sea reef that both countries claim as their own, two officials told Reuters, in a rare bilateral escalation not involving China. The move brings to light another of the multiple disputes in the strategic waterway, most...

Malaysia to leverage Asean chairmanship to resolve South China Sea issues

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia plans to leverage its chairmanship of the upcoming Asean summits next year to resolve outstanding South China Sea issues, says Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari (pic). Adly said the Defence Ministry emphasises three important pillars over the South China Sea issue: Malaysia’s readiness and the modernisation of its navy assets, the robustness of...

Chinese military ships docking in Malaysia is normal, says Tok Mat

SEREMBAN: The recent docking of two Chinese naval ships in Penang is a common matter and does not pose any problem for the country. Based on a Sinar Harian report, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that Malaysia has had bilateral relations with China for a long time. “There is no problem at all; it’s not...

Issues related to South China Sea to be ironed out via diplomatic channels, says Fahmi

PUTRAJAYA: Any issues relating to the South China Sea will be ironed out through diplomatic channels, says Fahmi Fadzil. The Communications Minister said this when asked about the rising concerns following the sighting of a foreign military vessel encroaching on the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). He, however, said the matter was not discussed in detail during...

Philippines says it won’t back down, but won’t start a war, after clash with Chinese Coast Guard

MANILA, Philippines (AP): The president of the Philippines said Sunday his country would not yield to "any foreign power” after Chinese forces injured Filipino navy personnel and damaged at least two military boats with machetes, axes and hammers in a clash in the disputed South China Sea, but added the Philippines would never instigate a...

Cooperation between Malaysia and China depends on mutual trust, says Anwar

JAKARTA: Any future collaboration between Malaysia and China should depend largely on mutual trust, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said that Malaysia and its Asean partners always consider China an important neighbour and a great friend in terms of trade, investments and security arrangements. China's Premier Li Qiang's presence at the summit had strengthened...

Malaysia says it will protect its rights in South China Sea

Malaysia said on Saturday (April 8) it was firmly committed to protecting its sovereign rights and interests in the South China Sea after China expressed concern about Malaysian energy projects in a part of the sea that China also claims. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday China was worried about activity by the state energy...

New US report dismisses Beijing’s claim to South China Sea ‘historical rights’

The US government stepped up its criticism of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea on Wednesday (Jan 12), issuing a report that declares "historical rights" a meaningless term. Referencing the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and an international ruling dismissing most of China's claims in the South China...