Anwar calls for code of conduct on South China Sea issues

The Star

Malaysia is concerned over potential escalation among South China Sea claimants, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.   Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday (May 31), the Prime Minister said there should be a code of conduct in managing South China Sea issues.  Read more at https://tinyurl.com/3nvzw7xk  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

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00:00We do not object to like-minded partners talking about among themselves, but coalitions that

00:06build walls instead of bridges, stoke arms competition, or undermine the legitimacy of

00:13multilateralism should give us pause. A stable region is not one braced for conflict, but

00:21one grounded in openness, transparency, and habit-forming cooperation.

00:27We understand that nations need a degree of control over their defense industries and

00:32critical infrastructure. We recognize that a measure of deterrence helps keep all parties

00:37honest. It is that, with that realism in mind, that Malaysia adopts a posture of active non-alignment

00:45to preserve our ability to act on our terms. It is a deliberate way to remain outward-facing,

00:53connected, and in control of our strategic space. The suggestion that we do not necessarily

01:01align fully with one side, then we must have capitulated to the other, is untenable. Nowhere

01:10is this more evident than in the prevailing discourse on the South China Sea, where the dispute is

01:18far too complex. Our objective is not achieved through escalation, nor by provoking others into

01:26disproportionate responses. It is best pursued through steady, principled diplomacy, quiet where

01:35necessary but always firm. Malaysia remains deeply concerned about the potential for escalation among

01:43the claimants in the South China Sea. We have no interest in seeing tensions spiral into confrontation.

01:50It is a wall in waters so critical to our own security and prosperity. That is why we will continue to

01:57engage with all parties calmly, directly, consistently. We will urge restraint, encourage dialogue, and work

02:06to preserve the stability on which this region depends. Above all, we remain steadfast in our principled

02:15insistence that all parties uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

02:27At the

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