KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 — The South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC), expected to be finalised this year, is not an instrument to resolve overlapping claims, but rather a framework to ensure the waters remain a safe, free and peaceful trade route for all parties, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said overlapping claims need to be resolved through bilateral or multilateral negotiations, while the COC serves to establish behavioural principles and confidence-building measures to prevent tensions in the area.
“Our country, Malaysia, is the country coordinator with China, and we have undertaken what is called the rapid discussion group, the joint working group committee on the COC.
“So I am confident that many of the terms within the COC have already received agreement,” he said during the Ministers’ Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Mohamad was replying to a question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) regarding the latest developments in COC negotiations on the South China Sea, including Malaysia’s role, the security situation in the Batu Puteh waters, and the government’s measures to address it.
