Territorial claims to be resolved through friendly consultations, says China embassy

China is prepared to cooperate with Malaysia to resolve overlapping territorial claims between both countries in the South China Sea, said its embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

The embassy’s spokesperson Tang Tang said this in a statement yesterday in response to Malaysiakini’s report that the China coast guard had maintained a near-constant presence at Beting Patinggi Ali, also known as Luconia Shoals.

“China is always ready to cooperate with Malaysia to deepen our mutual trust, and to continue to properly settle the relevant issues through bilateral friendly consultations.

“It is our expectation that both sides can work together to fully implement the Declaration of Conduct and push forward a consultation on the Code of Conduct, so as to safeguard peace and stability over the South China Sea,” he said.

The Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea is a non-binding pact signed in 2002 between China and Asean nations.

The document called on parties to exercise self-restraint on activities that could "complicate or escalate" territorial disputes in the South China Sea, as well as to hammer out a code of conduct.

In 2019, China had expressed confidence that consultation on the Code of Conduct can be concluded in three years.

In his statement yesterday, Tang said both Malaysia and China had handled disputes properly through dialogue and consultation.

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that the China coastguard has maintained a near-constant presence in the waters near Beting Patinggi Ali through a succession of patrol vessels. 

The area, known as Luconia Shoals internationally, is located about 100km off Sarawak coast.

Malaysia regards those waters as part of its exclusive economic zone, while China claimed it has historical rights to the area, as well as large swathes of the South China Sea.

Much of China’s claims have been disputed by other countries including Malaysia, and the claims are not internationally recognised.

The National Audit Department reported that China coastguard and People's Liberation Army navy vessels have encroached Malaysian waters 89 times between 2016 and 2019, particularly in the area near Beting Patinggi Ali.

- Mkini