Chinese ships were just passing through - Armed Forces Chief

The Malaysian armed forces chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin on Thursday confirmed a reported incursion of three Chinese naval ships last month in the South China Sea.

However, Zulkifeli also said that the country was ‘okay’ with the presence of the Chinese vessels at James Shoal, a disputed territory being claimed by both China and Malaysia.

“We’ve been monitoring, (yes) they strayed into our waters,” Zulkifeli told reporters at the Defence Ministry headquarters here this morning.

On whether Malaysia was informed prior to the incursion, Zulkifeli said that an announcement was made through China’s official navy website that the vessels were passing through Malaysian waters.

“That’s a natural thing. As long as it was an innocent passage, that is okay with us,” stressed Zulkifeli, who also denied reports that the vessels were patrolling the area but confirmed that they had crossed into Malaysian’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) along the Malacca Straits.

On the alleged oath-taking by Chinese soldiers on board the ship, Zulkifeli replied: “If they took an oath on the deck, nobody can stop them. It is free passage, what you do on your ship (is your prerogative).”

“(But) please do not perceive that they have stopped the ship, docked their ship and came out with their troops,” he said.

On Jan 26, China’s state news agency Xin Hua reported that the three Chinese ships had patrolled the James Shoal, and soldiers and officers on board swore to safeguard its sovereignty.

This action on James Shoal, located about 80km from Sarawak but regarded by Beijing as its southernmost territory, is seen as China's assertiveness over the territory.

Zulkifeli’s statement today followed those by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman as well Navy chief Abdul Aziz Jaafar who both brushed off and played down the contentious issue.

Anifah said he had no confirmation of the incident, maintaining the country's stance of publicly saying little against its largest trading partner's military movements in the region.

"Nevertheless, any intrusion into our territory will not get a very good response from us,” Anifah reportedly said.

Previously, Abdul Aziz had also dismissed arguments that Chinese fleet movements are a threat to Malaysia's sovereignty, saying China carries out its exercises in international waters.

Meanwhile, commenting on the matter today, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein called for the media not to “bring up the temperature” between the countries.

“At the end of the day, what is important is the bilateral and multilateral relations between both countries. We are not going to war based on media reporting and the fact that people are using these issues to flare up the situation,” said Hishammuddin, maintaining Malaysia has a “special relationship” with both the US and China.

“Most importantly is that our people are safe, our region is stable and our wisdom in tackling this issue. We must be realistic in our capabilities in facing such big powers, if we face something we cannot control, our rakyat will be angry.”

“The biggest thing we are going to avoid is jeopardizing innocent Malaysian lives. We will never compromise on our integrity, our independence and our position, it has been consistent when it comes to territorial waters which are our rights,” said Hishammuddin.

In the incident, the three Chinese vessels reportedly comprised of an amphibious landing craft, called a Changbaishan, and two destroyers.

China has been seen as being increasingly aggressive in staking claims to parts of the potentially oil and gas-rich South China Sea.

It was previously reported that Malaysia had protested against the incursion of four Chinese ships in James Shoal, about 80 km (50 miles) off Sarawak on Borneo island last year in March. Chinese sailors fired guns in the air during the visit. In April, a Chinese maritime surveillance ship returned to James Shoal to leave behind steel markers to assert its claim.

Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines also claim other parts of the South China Sea. China has a separate dispute with Japan in the East China Sea.