Malaysian Politics and the South China Sea Dilemma

This paper aims to analyze the evolution of the Malaysian diplomatic and political approach towards the South China Sea dispute. The South China Sea issue is a major problem that affects both bilateral and multilateral relations in the region, involving countries with deep economic ties such as People’s Republic of China (PRC), Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Malaysia is one of the most important claimants in the area, asserting its sovereignty on some islets in the southern Spratly archipelago and occupying five of them since 2009, but its aspirations have often been challenged by a lack of political cohesion towards the issue. The Malaysian government, since the second half of 1990’s, has tried to develop a political strategy capable of protecting both their interests in the South China Sea and the economic ties with the PRC. The desire of balancing between the diplomatic and the economic realm has prevented the country to develop a strong and clear political agenda on the issue, which has resulted in a progressive loss of incisiveness and influence vis-à-vis Philippines and Vietnam. The purpose of the paper is to identify the main challenges behind the political impasse in Kuala Lumpur’s South China Sea strategy, considering the historical and legal background of the maritime claims and the development of a multilateral diplomatic framework in the region. In this regard, the role of Malaysia within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the inviolable neutrality of the Association towards the dispute are particularly important for understanding Kuala Lumpur’s political incertitude. Delving on the Malaysian posture in the dispute, we might also be able to point out the possible future outcomes in the Southern Spratlys. One of the most volatile regional challenges is represented by a possible escalation of the dispute in the archipelago, which deeply concerns Malaysian officials. The work is based on published materials, official documents and statements of the Malaysian government and ASEAN, public declarations and interviews.