Malaysia seeks 'code of conduct' for Spratlys islands<\/p>\n
Reuters, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Malaysia is pushing Southeast Asian nations with territorial
\nclaims over the disputed Spratly islands to sign a \"code-of-
\nconduct\" over the use of the area, a government official said on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
The archipelago, a collection of around 100 submerged banks,
\nreefs and tiny islets in the South China Sea, is claimed all or
\nin part by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and
\nVietnam.<\/p>\n
Fueling rivalries is speculation that significant oil and gas
\nreserves may lie beneath the tropical waters in the archipelago
\n-- which has less than 5 square km (2 square miles) of land but
\ncovers nearly 410,000 square km (158,000 square miles) of ocean.<\/p>\n
A pact would lower tension until the competing claims are
\nresolved, officials at the Malaysian foreign ministry told
\nReuters.<\/p>\n
The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam are members of
\nthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), whose foreign
\nministers are due to meet in Brunei between July 26 and Aug. 2.<\/p>\n
Malaysian officials said Kuala Lumpur will propose a Spratly
\ndeclaration be signed at the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the proposal will go well with the other ASEAN
\nmembers,\" said a foreign ministry official in Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
The Spratlys' sovereignty has been one the prickliest issues
\nin the region, with sporadic clashes between fishermen and naval
\nvessels in recent years.<\/p>\n
The islands have no civilian population although most of the
\nclaimant nations have occupied some islands or reefs, according
\nto the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's world fact book.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said on Tuesday
\nthe six claimants had trouble agreeing on how to define the
\narchipelago geographically.<\/p>\n
\"If we cannot arrive at a consensus...then we must be seen to
\nbe doing something that contributes to the easing of
\ntension...that is we make a declaration which we all can sign and
\ndeclare our position,\" he said.<\/p>\n
ASEAN's 10 members also include Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos,
\nMyanmar, Singapore and Thailand.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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