Envoy to call on Adenan over Chinese coast guard ships in Sarawak waters

Activists with placards during a rally against Beijing’s island-building in the South China Sea at the Chinese consulate in Manila on February 5. China’s presence in Southeast Asian waters has created unease with the Chinese ambassador to Malaysia meeting the Sarawak chief minister over the matter. – AFP pic, February 15, 2016.The courtesy call by China’s ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang on Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem on a date yet to be fixed is likely to resolve the issue of the presence of Chinese coast guard ships in the state’s waters.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said there must be a diplomatic solution in such a situation.

“The ambassador will be calling on the Sarawak chief minister so that communication between the state and China directly will not be exploited by irresponsible groups, because I believe that military intervention is only the last resort.”

He said this after a Chinese New Year celebration for the Sembrong parliamentary constituency in Paloh, Kluang, yesterday where Huang was present.

Hishammuddin, who is also Sembrong MP, said the decision taken by the Chinese ambassador and Adenan and the Sarawak leadership was the best under the circumstances.

“I have known him (Huang) for a long time and I feel there is no intention to worsen the situation but our leadership’s wisdom in handling relations with our neighbouring countries, China and even the United States, Japan and South Korea must all be taken into consideration, especially in this borderless world.”

Hishammuddin said the country’s stand was consistent and it wanted to know the intention and purpose of the Chinese ships patrolling the Gugusan Beting Patinggi Ali waters, about 84 nautical miles from the coast of Miri. – Bernama, February 15, 2016.