Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Malaysia Flags South China Sea Claims Concern Amid Code Talks
Malaysia and China disagree about who controls some parts of the South China Sea.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said these overlapping claims are still a concern.
He also said Malaysia’s discussions with China have remained peaceful.
ASEAN countries want a clear set of rules, called a code of conduct, for the region.
China has responded positively to the idea, and negotiations are continuing.
Anwar said an existing international law called UNCLOS does not answer every practical question.
The South China Sea is important because many goods travel through it.
It may also contain valuable oil, gas and fishing resources.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said overlapping maritime claims with China remain a concern.
Anwar described Malaysia’s engagement with China as peaceful despite conflicting claims.
ASEAN and China are negotiating the details of a proposed South China Sea code of conduct.
Anwar said UNCLOS is broadly accepted but too vague on some practical measures.
China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have competing claims in the sea.
- Who
- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia, China and ASEAN countries are central to the discussions; Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan also have competing claims.
- What
- Malaysia has raised concerns about overlapping maritime claims with China while negotiations continue on a South China Sea code of conduct.
- When
- The comments were made during Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to India for the BRICS Summit.
- Where
- The issue concerns the South China Sea; Anwar spoke to NDTV while in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- The sea is a major trade corridor with reported oil, gas and fishing resources, and existing UNCLOS provisions are considered too vague on some practical issues.
Malaysia and ASEAN’s Position
China’s Position
Maritime claims
Malaysia and ASEAN’s Position
Malaysia considers overlapping claims with China a continuing concern and supports negotiations to manage them peacefully.
China’s Position
China maintains the expansive claims associated with the nine-dash line and has rejected the 2016 tribunal ruling described in the report.
Regional rules
Malaysia and ASEAN’s Position
ASEAN wants a detailed code of conduct because UNCLOS does not address some practical issues clearly enough.
China’s Position
Beijing has responded positively to the idea of a code of conduct, while negotiations continue over its specific parameters.
- Main concern
- Malaysia’s overlapping maritime claims with China remain an issue in bilateral negotiations.
- Diplomatic tone
- Anwar said engagement between Malaysia and China has so far been peaceful.
- Proposed framework
- ASEAN has pushed for a formal South China Sea code of conduct, with negotiations underway.
- Existing law
- The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is broadly accepted but viewed as vague on some practical measures.
- Competing claimants
- China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan claim parts of the South China Sea.
- Tribunal ruling
- A 2016 international tribunal in The Hague ruled that China’s nine-dash-line claims had no legal basis; Beijing has rejected the decision.
- Strategic importance
- The South China Sea is described as a major trade corridor with substantial oil, gas and fishing resources.