Malaysia must prepare navy for possible conflict in South China Sea, foreign minister warns
- Saifuddin Abdullah says Kuala Lumpur’s ability to prevent other countries encroaching on its waters is lacking, and military upgrades are needed
- Malaysia’s stance advocating non-militarisation of the disputed waterway is rhetorical only, analysts say, and there is ‘no substitute for tonnage at sea’
Malaysia’s navy needs upgrading to deal with the possibility of armed conflict in the South China Sea, the country’s foreign minister said on Thursday ahead of the long-awaited release of a Defence White Paper expected to outline a 10-year plan for the armed forces.
Saifuddin Abdullah spelled out in parliament how China’s coastguard vessels had a 24-hour presence around the South Luconia Shoals off the Malaysian state of Sarawak in Borneo, adding that ships under the Royal Malaysian Navy “are smaller than the coastguard vessels from China”.
Despite not wanting conflict, Malaysian equipment had to be upgraded “so we are able to better manage our waters should there be a conflict between major powers in the South China Sea”, he said. Although Malaysia could issue protest notes if other nations encroached into its waters, the country’s lack of enforcement ability was a weak spot, the minister warned.
The Defence White Paper – Malaysia’s first – is expected to be tabled in early December, and will take stock of military assets as well as lay out Malaysia’s stand on various defence issues.
Saifuddin’s remarks come just a month after the Pakatan Harapan government, which stormed to power last year in landmark national polls, unveiled a new guiding framework for foreign policy that proposed non-militarisation of the disputed waterway and turning it into a region of peace, friendship and trade.