MALAYSIA does not recognise China’s claims in the South China Sea as outlined in the China Standard Map Edition 2023, which encompasses Malaysia’s maritime areas, the Foreign Ministry said.

The map holds no binding authority over Malaysia, it said in a statement today.

The map displays China’s unilateral maritime claims that encroach into Malaysia’s maritime areas in Sabah and Sarawak based on the Malaysia New Map 1979, it said.

Wisma Putra said Malaysia consistently rejects any foreign party’s claims to its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over maritime features or maritime areas based on the Malaysia New Map 1979.

“Malaysia views the South China Sea issue as a complex and sensitive matter,” the statement said, adding that it needs to be managed peacefully and rationally via negotiations based on provisions of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.

“Malaysia remains committed to cooperating to ensure all parties implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea comprehensively and effectively.

“Malaysia is also committed to the effective and substantive negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), with the goal of finalising the COC as soon as possible,” it said.

On Monday, Beijing’s Natural Resources Ministry issued the China Standard Map Edition 2023, which lays claim over Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone maritime off Sabah and Sarawak near Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam. – Bernama, August 30, 2023.