Transfer follows publication of leaked doc warning Malaysia off oil drilling by Philippine media outlet.
Malaysia’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs has stated it’s investigating the leak of a labeled doc China despatched to its embassy in Beijing in February following the publication final month of an article in a Philippine media outlet.
The ministry stated police would learn and an inner investigation was underneath approach, in an announcement launched late on Wednesday.
It didn’t title the outlet or verify the authenticity of the observe’s contents however did go into element about Malaysia’s claims within the disputed South China Sea.
The Philippine Day by day Inquirer reported on August 29 that China had despatched the Malaysian embassy a diplomatic observe to cease all oil exploration and drilling actions at Luconia Shoals, which lie about 100 kilometres off the Malaysian state of Sarawak.
Quoting the observe, the paper reported China claiming Malaysia’s actions “infringed” on its sovereignty.
The shoals are some 1,300km from Hainan Island, China’s nearest main landmass.
“The ministry views the leak of this doc, which constitutes an official communication channel between the 2 nations, with grave concern,” the assertion stated.
Beijing claims nearly the complete South China Sea underneath a nine-dash line that was dominated with out benefit in 2016 by a world court docket.
Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan additionally declare components of the waterway.
Tensions have soared in latest months with repeated confrontations between Chinese language and Philippine coastguard vessels at Second Thomas Shoal and different disputed areas.
Malaysia’s Overseas Ministry famous that Beijing and Kuala Lumpur had dedicated to resolving the South China Sea dispute peacefully.
“Malaysia’s stance on the South China Sea stays unchanged,” the assertion stated. “Malaysia will proceed to defend its sovereignty, sovereign rights and pursuits in its maritime areas … This strategy aligns with the universally recognised ideas of worldwide legislation, together with the United Nations Conference on the Regulation of the Sea [UNCLOS], 1982.”
China’s embassy in Kuala Lumpur didn’t reply to telephone and emailed requests for remark.
