Malaysia Urges Asean Unity on Security Issues
Comments Come as Tensions Simmer Between China and Vietnam Over Waters Claimed by Both Parties
SINGAPORE—Malaysia's defense minister on Saturday urged Southeast Asian leaders to forge unity in tackling security issues and engaging major external powers, amid simmering territorial tensions that have exposed the region's uneven ties with China.
"Asean must stand united together on several key defense issues, and not be pulled in different directions," Mr. Hishammuddin told the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual international defense summit in Singapore.
"We should and we can work together towards establishing a common policy position on important
Malaysia Urges Asean Unity on Security Issues
Comments Come as Tensions Simmer Between China and Vietnam Over Waters Claimed by Both Parties
SINGAPORE—Malaysia's defense minister on Saturday urged Southeast Asian leaders to forge unity in tackling security issues and engaging major external powers, amid simmering territorial tensions that have exposed the region's uneven ties with China.
"Asean must stand united together on several key defense issues, and not be pulled in different directions," Mr. Hishammuddin told the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual international defense summit in Singapore.
"We should and we can work together towards establishing a common policy position on important issues, such as maritime security and our relations with major powers," the minister said.
In his speech, Mr. Hishammuddin avoided direct criticism of China, but appeared to make a pointed call to Beijing to take steps to ease tensions with Asean. "Major powers must sincerely understand us," he said.
At the summit, top U.S. and Japanese leaders served up back-to-back criticism of Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, arguing that Beijing's efforts to bolster its territorial claims risk undermining the international order that has underpinned Asian prosperity since the end of World War II. China has defended its actions as normal activities within areas it considers its own sovereign territory.
Malaysia, like several of its neighbors, has claims in the South China Sea, an important sea lane believed to hold vast energy reserves. But its government has typically taken a back seat in territorial disputes, unlike other claimants like Vietnam and the Philippines—a posture analysts say stems from Malaysia's reluctance to antagonize China, a major economic partner.
In his speech, Mr. Hishammuddin acknowledged that Asean and China may still find it difficult to find consensus on implementing a 2002 joint Asean-China declaration on conduct in the South China Sea, which calls for a code of conduct for the contested waters.
This, he said, is partly due to recent developments in several Southeast Asian countries—the military coup in Thailand, the death of Laos' defense minister in a recent plane crash, and the imminent political changes in Jakarta due to Indonesia's upcoming presidential elections.
Even so, "as far as Malaysia is concerned, there is no alternative but to get it done," Mr. Hishammuddin said.
Write to Chun Han Wong atchunhan.wong@wsj.com said.
In his speech, Mr. Hishammuddin avoided direct criticism of China, but appeared to make a pointed call to Beijing to take steps to ease tensions with Asean. "Major powers must sincerely understand us," he said.
At the summit, top U.S. and Japanese leaders served up back-to-back criticism of Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, arguing that Beijing's efforts to bolster its territorial claims risk undermining the international order that has underpinned Asian prosperity since the end of World War II. China has defended its actions as normal activities within areas it considers its own sovereign territory.
Malaysia, like several of its neighbors, has claims in the South China Sea, an important sea lane believed to hold vast energy reserves. But its government has typically taken a back seat in territorial disputes, unlike other claimants like Vietnam and the Philippines—a posture analysts say stems from Malaysia's reluctance to antagonize China, a major economic partner.
In his speech, Mr. Hishammuddin acknowledged that Asean and China may still find it difficult to find consensus on implementing a 2002 joint Asean-China declaration on conduct in the South China Sea, which calls for a code of conduct for the contested waters.
This, he said, is partly due to recent developments in several Southeast Asian countries—the military coup in Thailand, the death of Laos' defense minister in a recent plane crash, and the imminent political changes in Jakarta due to Indonesia's upcoming presidential elections.
Even so, "as far as Malaysia is concerned, there is no alternative but to get it done," Mr. Hishammuddin said.
Write to Chun Han Wong atchunhan.wong@wsj.com
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