KUALA LUMPUR: Wisma Putra summoned the Chinese Ambassador twice last year over encroachment of Malaysian territory by Chinese vessels, says Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar.

       "The first time was on June 3 after 16 planes encroached upon our airspace.

       "The second was on Oct 4 when Chinese vessels, including a research ship, were present and carrying out activities in our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Sabah and Sarawak," the Deputy Foreign Minister said in reply to a supplementary question by Lukanisman Awang Sauni (GPS-Sibuti) in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (March 7).

       The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) confirmed last year that 16 People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft entered the Malaysia Maritime Zone on May 31 and were detected flying close to the nation's airspace.

       On Oct 4, Wisma Putra called in China’s ambassador to convey Malaysia’s position and protest against the presence and activities of Chinese vessels in Malaysia’s EEZ off Sabah and Sarawak.

       The steps taken by Wisma Putra were apart from protest notices, which are usually issued with regard to encroachment on the nation's airspace or waters, Kamarudin added.

       He noted that Asean and China are still in dialogue to resolve overlapping claims in the South China Sea based on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

       "The COC talks began in 2017 but were temporarily halted last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       "The 35th meeting of a joint working committee on the COC is scheduled to resume on March 8 and 9," he said.

       On the trilateral security pact involving the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, or Aukus, Kamarudin said it would not have any influence on current dialogue between Asean and China on issues surrounding claims in the South China Sea.

       "Our stand is that there should not be any outside influence to resolve issues within the Asean region," he said.

       He also said the COC is seen as a way to avoid tension or conflicts in the South China Sea without external influence.

       He noted that COC will not prejudice territorial and maritime claims by the respective nations.

       Mohamed Sabu (PH-Kota Raja), a former defence minister, had expressed concern that Aukus would be seen as a provocation that could result in tension arising over claims in the South China Sea.