Written by Puan Noor’ain Aini, Senior Lecturer, FSSH
The talk titled “Maritime Claims and Diplomacy: Malaysia’s Approach to the South China Sea Dispute with China” was held on January 8th 2025 at Multimedia Room 1, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, UNIMAS. The talk was organized by third-year students enrolling in the course SSA3224 Contemporary Issues in International Relations taught by Madam Noor’ain Aini. The invited speaker, Lt Kol Ts Dr Maimunah binti Omar, is Assistant Director of Contemporary Security from the Malaysian Institute of Defense and Security (MiDAS).
The talk dived deep into Malaysia’s strategic approach to the ongoing South China Sea dispute. Key insights included Malaysia’s emphasis on a peaceful, rules-based resolution while safeguarding its territorial integrity and economic interests. Dr Maimunah discussed Malaysia’s diplomatic efforts to balance relations with China, highlighting its pursuit of multilateral dialogue through ASEAN and adherence to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The talk underscored Malaysia’s commitment to maintaining regional stability despite growing geopolitical tensions. Overall, the session shed light on Malaysia’s balancing approach, focusing on diplomacy, legal frameworks, and collaboration to navigate the complexities of the South China Sea dispute.
