Malaysia affirms role of int’l law in East Sea issue settlement

Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hishammuddin Tun Hussein affirmed the country’s standpoint on the East Sea issue during the ASEAN-US Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held virtually on July 14.

Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hishammuddin Tun Hussein

Malaysia upholds the country’s standpoint on solving the East Sea issue in a peaceful and constructive manner via dialogue and consultation, along with diplomatic channels in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), he said.

Hishammuddin reiterated that Malaysia always puts regional stability as a top priority and will exert efforts to ensure peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the waters.

Meanwhile, Dr Valentin Yakushik of the Department of International Relations and Social Sciences at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, said that the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’s ruling issued five years ago, which refuted groundless claims of China in the East Sea, upholds the principle of resorting to peaceful measures in the settlement of international disputes.

He emphasised that the PCA’s ruling is binding and based on the foundation of the UNCLOS 1982, which affirms that China’s “nine-dash line” is groundless and violates international law.

International disputes need to be resolved in line with international law, especially the principle of using peaceful measures, the Ukrainian scholar added./.

VNA