PUTRAJAYA: The Government of Malaysia has consistently rejects sovereignty claim, sovereignty rights and the jurisdiction of any foreign parties on the maritime features or the national maritime areas based on the New Map of Malaysia 1979 that relates to South China Sea including the maritime border issue.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its statement said, in this context, Malaysia does not recognize China’s claim on the South China Sea as outlined in the “2023 Edition of the Standard Map of China” that includes the Malaysian maritime area. The map does not bind Malaysia.
“Malaysia is with the opinion that the South China Sea issue is complex and sensitive. This issue should be handled in a peaceful and rational way via dialogue and negotiation based on the international laws including United Nations Conventional on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982).
“Malaysia is committed to continuously cooperating to ensure all parties implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea – DOC, as a whole and effectively.
“Malaysia is also committed to the negotiation process of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea –COC that is effective and substantive on the target to finalize COC the earliest possible,” the ministry said in its statement, on Wednesday.
The Ministry is responding to the “2023 Edition of the Standard Map of China” issued by the Ministry of Natunal Resourses of China on 28th August 2023. The map among others shows the unilateral act of China that is beyond the Malaysian maritime area in Sabah and Sarawak based on the New Map of Malaysia 1979. –Malaysia World News
