ASEAN summit: Malaysia’s Foreign Minister concerns about situation in East Sea

Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah. Source: malaymail.com

He voiced his concerns over the more frequent appearance of Chinese vessels in areas near the coast of Malaysia while the negotiations on building a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) with Beijing is going on.

Besides, Saifuddin said Malaysia’s foreign ministry will set up a maritime research centre and invite ASEAN member nations to join.

He also mentioned a series of issues and challenges that ASEAN is facing and called on the bloc to redouble efforts to deal with the rise of radicalism and extremism.

Malaysia will actively take part in the field through activities of ASEAN counter-terrorism centre, he affirmed.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed Vietnam’s strong determination to persistently protect international law in international relations in general and in the East Sea issue in particular at the plenary meeting of the 35^th ASEAN Summit which officially opened in Thailand on November 2.

On the East Sea issue, he emphasized that maintaining an international legal order is the prerequisite for peace and stability in the East Sea, noting that the recent serious incidents in the waters of the region and Vietnam violated international law and have given ASEAN major lessons.

PM Phuc also expressed his concern over fragile security and stability in the East Sea and called for serious commitments and responsibility from all regional nations to ensure that the similar incidents will not reoccur.

Vietnam is determined and persistent in protecting the international law in international relations in general and in the East Sea issues in particular, he stressed.

The 10-member ASEAN has been locked in talks for a code of conduct for the sea. The agreement, set to be finished in 2021, will set out conduct guidelines for the sea along with conflict resolution parameters.

On November 3, China’s premier Li Keqiang said the first reading of the document – a chance for all members to comment on the draft terms – was “a very important landmark.”

“We stand ready to work with Asean countries building on the existing foundation and the basis to strive for new progress” on the guidelines, he said.

He added that China wanted to “maintain and uphold long-term peace and stability in the South China (East) Sea.”

VNF/VNA/VOV