PUTRAJAYA OCT.4: Malaysia has lodged a protest against the presence and activities of Chinese vessels including a survey vessel in Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone off the coasts of Sabah and Sarawak.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, it has called in the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to convey Malaysia’s position and protest against the presence of Chinese vessels in the Malaysian’s Exclusive Economic Zones involving the two states in East Malaysia.
“The presence and activities of these vessels are inconsistent with Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1984 as well as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Malaysia’s consistent position and actions are based on international law, in defence of our sovereignty and sovereign rights in our waters. Malaysia had also protested against the previous encroachments by other foreign vessels into our waters,” said the Foreign Ministry in its statement here today.
The statement added, in determining Malaysia’s position and course of action with regard to the South China Sea issue which is complex and involves inter-State relations, Malaysia’s national interests will remain of paramount importance.
“Malaysia reiterates that all matters relating to the South China Sea must be resolved peacefully and constructively, in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. –Malaysia World News
