Shafie to Putrajaya: Do something before South China Sea becoming a war zone

Sabah caretaker Chief Minister Shafie Apdal has urged Putrajaya to help prevent the South China Sea from turning into a war zone due to escalating disputes between the US and China.

He said the government must resolve the issue concerning foreign naval ships encroaching Malaysia waters in the South China Sea through diplomatic means.

He said the government should consider if it needs to bring the territorial disputes to the International Court of Justice.

"We must resolve diplomatically (issues) between the big countries like the US and China.

"We need to look into the issues seriously. We need to establish whether there is a need for us to bring it to the International Court of Justice," he said when interviewed on business radio BFM's "Breakfast Grille" programme today.

"We can't have another war zone in this part of the world as what happened in the Middle East.

"I think we have to save the world when the people are facing a lot of serious problems like Covid-19," added Shafie.

He said the security forces should not just be well aware of the developments in the South China Sea, but also be prepared for eventualities.

Shafie, who is also the Sabah National Security Council chairperson, said he was well aware of the development in the South China Sea.

"I need to know about this as it could endanger not only the security and also the livelihood of all people in this part of the world," he said.

China laid claim to own a large part of the South China Sea based on its "nine-dash line" claim. However, this claim has not been recognised by Malaysia and Asean.

According to the National Audit Department, the China Coast Guard (CCG) and People's Liberation Army Navy (Plan) encroached Malaysian-claimed waters 89 times between 2016 and 2019 and had ignored Malaysia’s protest notes on these incursions.

This is especially the case in Beting Patinggi Ali, the department said, which is also known as the Luconia Shoals. A further check by Malaysiakini has found that the CCG maintains a near-constant presence near the shoals.

According to the audit report, the Malaysian Navy had responded by forcing back the intruders and demanding the foreign ministry take action.

Six diplomatic protests were lodged within the relevant period. However, the CCG and Plan continued to encroach the area.

The dispute is still being resolved through diplomatic channels, including negotiations to lay out the code of conduct for the South China Sea.

This year, a Chinese research ship spent a month surveying in Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone, amid a standoff with a Malaysian oil exploration vessel near disputed waters.

The Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur had denied accusations that China was building a maritime empire in the South China Sea.

The embassy stated that China would not stir up trouble but when its maritime rights are infringed, it would take the necessary "moderate" reaction.

Two US Navy supercarriers had conducted operations and military exercises in the contested area between July 4 and July 6 and returned to the region in the following week. - Mkini