Malaysia to seek clarification from China on army asset claims

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will seek clarification from China on claims it is placing military assets on islands in the South China Sea, said Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

The Defence Minister said he would write to his counterpart in China, Minister of Defence and State Councillor General Chang Wanquan, to seek clarification.

Hishammuddin said there were two matters that he viewed as main concerns in the South China Sea – accidental and unintended incidents in the high seas and the increase in militarisation from any country.

“If the reports are true that China is placing military assets on the islands, it would force Malaysia into a ‘pushback’ against China,” he told reporters yesterday after witnessing the handing over of duties of the new Armed Forces Chief at Wisma Pertahanan yesterday.

The claims and images were published recently by Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, a US-based non-governmental orga­nisation.

“If the images are real, they are a cause for serious concern as they may increase tensions and undermine peace and stability in the region,” he added.

He said he would also write to US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter to enquire on the legitimacy of the claims.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that China appeared to have installed weapons on the seven artificial islands it is said to have built in the South China Sea, as was reported by a US think tank that cited new satellite imagery.

Earlier, Hishammuddin witnessed the handing over of duties to new Armed Forces Chief Jeneral Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor from Jeneral Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin.