KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — Malaysia continues to manage the presence of foreign vessels, including Chinese ships, in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) through established diplomatic and defence channels, Chief of Defence Force General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman said.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 19th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) here, Mohammad said such vessels are regularly sighted in Malaysian waters but stressed that the situation remains under control.
“There are always ships in the EEZ. We are handling it — through diplomatic notes, sometimes in our own way. So far, we’ve been able to manage it, so don’t worry too much,” he said.
Asked how China had responded to Malaysia’s diplomatic notes, he said that would fall under the purview of the Foreign Ministry.
“You’ll have to ask Wisma Putra, not me. But so far, we have open discussions. Whenever we have meetings, we discuss matters openly. They understand,” he said.
Mohammad said the issue has not strained Malaysia’s military relations with China, describing bilateral ties as friendly and constructive.
“We are friendly nations. Economically, we have many areas to work on. Militarily, we are working on agreements for bilateral training and the sourcing of equipment,” he said.
He added that Malaysia and China have already conducted a joint military exercise and that defence cooperation between both sides remains on track.
The Armed Forces chief also pointed to China’s Global Security Initiative as a framework that could shape Beijing’s broader approach to regional stability.
