KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry will be working with its Australian and Asean counterparts in grappling with the Spratly Islands territorial dispute, Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.
Hishammuddin said he will be meeting Australian Senator Marisa Payne next week to discuss about developments revolving around the issue.
"I will meet with her to share information on the issue as well as to ensure we can rely on China's promise to not place military assets on the artificial islands especially the Spratly Islands.
"I will also consult other Asean leaders especially the immediate stakeholders in the issue namely those from Vietnam and the Philippines," he said after delivering a keynote address at a leadership course held at Maktab Turus Angkatan Tentera (MTAT) earlier today.
Hishammuddin said this when asked on reports on China's military build-up on the islands.
Asked if Malaysia would position military assets on the said territory, he responded in the negative and said that a collective action from the region was more important.
"Placing our assets there will raise eyebrows and cause further conflict.
"We will then get trapped in the geopolitics of superpowers which Asean will not allow," he said.