KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, together with Asean countries, is negotiating a Code of Conduct (COC) framework in the South China Sea with China to prevent conflicts and tensions in the region.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan told the Dewan Rakyat today that the framework would be developed without prejudice to the territorial and maritime claims of each nation.
"The COC negotiations are being carried out by Asean member states and China through the Asean Joint Working Group, the Asean-China Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea, and the Asean-China Senior Officials Meeting on the implementation of the DOC, based on a single draft negotiation text used as the basis for the discussions.
"The latest COC negotiations at the working group level were held in Xi'an, China, from Sept 10 to 12, 2024, and the Senior Officials Meeting on the DOC took place on Sept 13, 2024," he said.
Malaysia, he said, was also playing its role as the coordinator for Asean-China dialogue relations for a period of three years, from August 2024 to July 2027.
"Malaysia serves as the co-chair in negotiating the draft COC. In this regard, Malaysia is committed to ensuring that the COC, if agreed upon, will be an effective and substantive document for addressing issues related to the South China Sea.
"Malaysia will ensure that the negotiated COC will not disregard the sovereignty and interests of the nation."