Metro Manila, Philippines— Malaysia called on members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to avoid seeking external assistance in dealing with disputes in the South China Sea.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan called on all parties to adhere to international law and minimize the influence of external powers in the region.
Mohamad made the announcement at the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in Laos.
“It is better for issues with ASEAN and the Southeast Asian region to be resolved through negotiations and dialogue among the countries themselves,” said Mohamad in a report on Malaysian news agency Bernama.
Mohamad said there was an agreement with ASEAN members that negotiations should continue and to reduce the presence of external parties.
“This is what we are trying to avoid and we request that major powers – though I won’t specify who – stop their attempts to intervene in ASEAN’s family environment. Let issues among ASEAN countries, particularly the South China Sea be resolved through negotiation and dialogue among ASEAN members themselves,” said Mohamad.
The Philippines, China, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and Taiwan are claimants in the South China Sea, with Beijing virtually claiming the vast majority of the sea lane, a vital ship trade route and reportedly rich in oil and gas.
In 2016, an arbitral tribunal debunked China’s historic claims in the South China Sea in favor of the Philippines.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said during his speech at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore in May that ASEAN centrality must be respected in dealing with regional issues.
“Any state that professes a stake in the continued peace and stability of this region must respect ASEAN Centrality not only with words, but with action. All partnerships and arrangements must never displace or dilute, but rather uphold and complement ASEAN’s central role,” he said.
