DEFENCE Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin has stressed that Asean must continue to handle all issues related to the South China Sea, Bernama reports.

He said the presence of foreign vessels in the area should not be viewed as an intrusion.

“There are no concerns with foreign vessels passing through the South China Sea as it is a free navigation zone. However, problems arise if these vessels stop in the waters,” he said after a working visit yesterday to Korea Aerospace Industries

“If we detect any form of intrusion, we will issue a protest note to the respective countries, including China.”

International media reports indicated that China has increased its military and coast guard activities in the South China Sea since the beginning of the year. These actions have led to several confrontations with the Filipino coast guard, raising tensions in the disputed waters, with the latest incident occurring on August 31.

Khaled said Malaysia would respond in accordance with international rules if any unusual activity was observed.

“I encourage Malaysians not to worry about this matter and to trust that our national security forces are safeguarding these waters,” he said. – September 13, 2024.