Malaysia will not stop South China Sea exploration despite China protests

5/9/2024 13:24

        Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday the country will not stop its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea despite claims by Beijing that Malaysia was infringing on its territory.
        
        Anwar, speaking from Russia where he is on an official trip, said Malaysia's exploration activities were within its territory and were not intended to be provocative or hostile towards China, with whom it has friendly relations.
        
        Anwar said in a televised press conference in Vladivostok, "Of course, we will have to operate in our waters and secure economic advantage, including drilling for oil, in our territory."
        
        "We have never denied the possibility of discussion (with China). But it doesn't mean we have to stop the operation in our area."
        
        Malaysia's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it would investigate the leak of a classified diplomatic note from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
        
        In the note, which was carried by a Philippine news outlet, Beijing asserted that Malaysia's oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea breached its territory.