On Monday, Bernama reported that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is willing to discuss the South China Sea dispute with China.
China claims the entire South China Sea, where $3 trillion in ship-borne trade passes yearly. Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam share claims.
Anwar told Bernama on Monday at the prime minister’s department that he mentioned the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China last week because Malaysia had energy exploration operations there.
Bernama did not clarify Anwar’s disagreement or South China Sea location.
“China also claims it. As a tiny nation that requires oil and gas, we must continue, but if discussions are required, we will negotiate “Anwar remarked.
China claims 90% of the South China Sea via a U-shaped “nine-dash line” on its maps, invalidated in 2016 by an international arbitration judgment Beijing does not recognize.
Southeast Asian countries’ negotiations with China concerning energy cooperation have failed.
Malaysian national oil corporation Petronas (PETR.UL) manages multiple South China Sea oil and gas resources inside its 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.
Malaysia protested Chinese ships near Petrona’s activities in previous years.
Malaysia summoned China’s ambassador in 2021 to protest Beijing’s “encroachment” into its waterways. Another Chinese survey ship and a Petronas-contracted oil exploration vessel fought for a month in Malaysia’s EEZ in 2020.
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