He said this in answering a supplementary question from Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) as to whether Putrajaya would send warships to the South China Sea to show China that Malaysia could not be bullied.
Bung Mokhtar claimed China was endlessly attempting to bully smaller countries in the region.
“Although China is our strategic partner, it seems that it has launched attempt after attempt to bully the smaller countries in the region.
“My question is, will our country be sending warships to the South China Sea as proof that Malaysia is not a weak country and that it can be bullied?” he asked.
In addressing this, Saifuddin said Malaysia did not want to be seen as a country which sent warships without any reason, adding: “I’d be worried if you (Kinabatangan MP) were the defence minister.”
Saifuddin had also, during question time, addressed concerns posed by Ronald Kiandee (BN-Beluran) and William Leong Jee Keen (PH-Selayang) about China’s aggressive presence in the South China Sea.
These included a question on the government’s stance on China establishing a military base, which is equipped with a missile system, in the Spratly Islands, and threats to peace in the region.
Saifuddin said negotiations on a Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) would be discussed at the 51st Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings next week (July 30).
“Currently, there is the 2002 Asean-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), but it is not able to ensure all round safety in the South China Sea.
“There are calls for a binding code of conduct as the DOC is non-binding,” he said.
The DOC has yet to be fully implemented despite more than a decade of its adoption. This has raised questions as to how much progress would be achievable with the COC.
Saifuddin, however, said the COC was not an instrument for solving the overlapping claims on territories in the South China Sea by several countries.
“While there are certain quarters saying that the DOC has no ‘teeth’, we are not saying that the COC has ‘fangs’. The COC is currently being discussed, but it is also noted that it will take some time before it is finalised.
“Malaysia understands that the COC negotiations will be done at the meeting of the Asean foreign ministers next week, and the need to prioritise how China’s behaviour can be controlled in the area. Therefore, there’s a need to expedite the existence of the COC,” he said.
Saifuddin added that if the COC was unable to address China’s aggressiveness in the South China Sea, then they would reevaluate the situation.
Currently, leaders of the Asean countries are in the midst of resolving differences in their stands on the matter. Some of them want the COC to be legally binding, while others do not.
Meanwhile, answering Selayang MP Leong’s question, Saifuddin said international laws allowed foreign vessels, including warships, to pass through the South China Sea as they had the freedom of navigation.
“No objection or action can be taken on these vessels while they are present in Malaysian maritime areas unless their activities clash with sailing principles such as carrying out enforcement duties or interrupting other vessels.
“But the increasing number of warships in the South China Sea is indeed causing tension.
“The Chinese Coast Guard is too big, and its size is causing unsettled sentiments among the Asean countries,” he said.
That was why, he said, there were calls for countries to lessen the presence of warships in the area.
He added that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had announced the country’s commitment towards discouraging the presence of warships in the South China Sea.
“As the PM said, we cannot stop these warships from passing, but he has signalled to treat this matter in a more stern manner, otherwise the situation will become worse.”
It has been reported that China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, through which more than US$5 trillion (RM20.3 trillion) in shipborne trade passes each year, are contested by four Asean members – Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Vietnam.
It has also been reported that Beijing had reclaimed islands in the disputed waters and built military installations on them, which it said were for defensive purposes and would not affect the freedom of navigation or overflights allowed by international law.