Malaysia and China's Military Presence in South China Sea

Malaysian Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has expressed conviction that the presence of the Chinese forces in the disputed area in the South China Sea was a mere show of their powere to the other parties. '''' We are monitoring acts of all countries involved and we are confident that China is not aggressive in such affairs but it just want to make its presence in the area well known'''' , said Zahid in a statement carried by Bernama news agency Tuesday. He further said that China''s heightened military presence in the area was only a show of power and he believed that its armed forces would not be involved in aggressive action. "We hope China will take the diplomatic path instead of a military solution to the issue," he said adding that the issue of the overlapping claims would be discussed at the Asean Defence Ministers'' Meeting in Bali in October. Malaysia will not go to war over the issue of overlapping claims in the South China Sea, Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said noting that Malaysia adhered to the Asean stand that disputes of overlapping claims in the area should be resolved through diplomacy and peaceful negotiations. "Our ministry agrees with the Asean stance and will avoid going to war in the area," he said He said Malaysia adhered to the Asean stand that disputes of overlapping claims in the area should be resolved through diplomacy and peaceful negotiations. "Our ministry agrees with the Asean stance and will avoid going to war in the area," he said. Tensions in the Spratlys Islands have escalated this year amid accusations from the Philippines and Vietnam that China was becoming increasingly aggressive in staking its claims to the area. South China Sea is the world''s largest sea. According to the Guinness Book of Records China Sea represents a strategic waterway of global significance, providing the key maritime link between the Indian Ocean and East Asia. Six coastal states , namely China (Peoples Republic of, PRC), Taiwan (Republic of China, ROC), Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei - lay claim to all or part of the Spratly and Paracel archipelagos and their surrounding maritime space. Of these six claimants, all save Brunei maintain a military presence on one or more islands.