Malaysia's Anwar stresses diplomatic talks with China over South China Sea claims
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia will keep pursuing peaceful negotiations with China to manage their overlapping South China Sea claims.
During a recent interview, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to resolve overlapping South China Sea claims with China through diplomatic channels. He noted that border matters are a regular agenda item in all bilateral talks and that Malaysia, as a smaller nation, seeks to maintain good relations while voicing its concerns when necessary. Anwar praised the peaceful nature of current Malaysia-China relations and urged the swift finalisation of the ASEAN-China Code of Conduct to prevent incidents in the busy maritime corridor.
He mentioned China's positive response and ongoing negotiations with ASEAN members to flesh out detailed guidelines beyond the broad UNCLOS framework. The leader also reiterated Malaysia's neutral foreign policy, aiming to keep close ties with major powers such as India and China for economic and security reasons.
Why it matters
The talks affect regional stability and trade routes in the contested South China Sea.
How this story developed
- Sep 4 Russia and North Korea inaugurate first road bridge across the Tumeng River
- Sep 4 From the 7th to the 11th, the three allies are conducting a five-day, multi-domain training aimed at deterring North Korean nuclear and missile threats. The joint operation involves naval, air and cyber forces and is described as a defensive drill that complies with international law. North Korea has condemned the exercise, suggesting it could trigger retaliatory missile tests. The drill follows previous Freedom Edge exercises held since 2024, which have included anti-missile, anti-submarine and cyber defence scenarios.
- Sep 6 Kim Jong-un oversaw the commissioning of the 5,000-ton destroyer Kang Kon, which he said will serve as an offensive asset in the DPRK’s nuclear counter-action system.
- Sep 7 Kang Kon was commissioned as the second destroyer of its class.
- Sep 7 The bridge has been opened to traffic, establishing the first road link between the two countries.
- Sep 7 The commissioning was noted alongside the start of the Freedom Edge joint exercise involving the United States, South Korea and Japan.
- Sep 7 North Korea’s defence minister issued a warning of strong retaliation against the Freedom Edge drills.
- Sep 8 Inauguration ceremony held with remote participation of North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and the bridge was named after Yakov Novichenko.
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