No hasty decisions by Asean over South China Sea, says Hishamuddin

PETALING JAYA: Asean will not be emotional during the 37th Asean Summit on matters involving the security and sovereignty of Asean countries and risk starting a war, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein.

He said on Tuesday (Nov 10) that the South China Sea issue would be discussed at the summit to be hosted by Vietnam, adding that it was unlikely to see a solution at the summit.

He also said the new leadership of the United States of America, under Joe Biden of the Democratic Party, would not necessarily affect the Asean talks.

However, the summit would make sure the new US administration understood Asean's stand, he added.

At a media conference here Tuesday (Nov 10), Hishamuddin said the 37th Asean Summit with the theme "Cohesive and Responsive Asean" would focus primarily on the post-Covid-19 scenario, including regional and international networking, the direction of Asean in developing a community, 2025 Vision and the formation of Asean Regional Centre on Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.

The virtual 37th Asean Summit, hosted by Vietnam, begins on Nov 12 and will continue until Sunday (Nov 15).

"It is a very, very fine balance that we have to tread when it comes to issues such as the South China Sea as lots of the issues involve lives.

"Malaysia has always been careful not to solve these issues in a haphazard and emotional manner.

"We are already worried about unintended accidents which may occur as there is no way of retreating to correct if we make the wrong move. Asean deliberations on these issues prove that we have at least not ended up unleashing wars.

"We have not had lives lost because of being emotional over such issues (of South China Sea)," said Hishamuddin.

The South China Sea, one of the world's busiest waterways, has been involved in overlapping territorial disputes involving China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

In recent years, China and US have locked horns over the issue, forcing Asean countries to find a solution.

Hishamuddin said Malaysia insisted that the politics of hate and division in Asean be managed properly.

"Malaysia believes courage is exercising patience when dealing with such issues rather than merely getting political points as it involves lives," said Hishamuddin.

He also said that although the previous US President Donald Trump had snubbed Asean meets in the past, it did not affect Asean's relationship with the US.

"It is business as usual with the US but the new administration has to be engaged as soon as possible. It is important to find areas we can agree upon, and where we cannot, we inform them of our position, whether it is an issue of economy, trade or relationships or geo-politics such as the issue of South China Sea," said Hishamuddin.

He was speaking to the media after attending the Meeting of Asean Foreign Ministers, 22nd Asean Political Security Community Council Meeting and 28th Asean Coordinating Council Meeting at a hotel here.

"These meetings set the stage for the virtual 37th Asean Summit attended by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin this Thursday.

"Among the issues discussed were the matters concerning the South China Sea, developments in Rakhine, Palestinian issue, non-traditional security threats and, most importantly, handling the challenges of the new global landscape post-Covid-19," said Hishamuddin.