Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim urges dialogue over South China Sea disputes

At the 39th Asia‑Pacific Roundtable in Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia will continue constructive engagement with China while stressing that dialogue, mutual trust and compliance with international law are essential for peace and stability in the South China Sea. He rejected the narrative that conflict in the waterway is unavoidable and noted his personal discussions with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, adding that China has expressed support for the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and ongoing ASEAN‑China code‑of‑conduct talks.

Anwar urged ASEAN to remain committed to diplomacy and warned against exaggerated war‑focused narratives. He also criticised what he described as double standards by some Western countries, citing the recent cancellation of an anti‑ship missile delivery by a Norwegian supplier as an example of unfair treatment that could undermine confidence in the international system.