In a statement issued today, the foreign ministry said it had handed over Malaysia’s protest note in response to the recent incident off the coast of Sarawak. The note was given to the Chinese ambassador who was summoned to explain the matter on June 3.
The ministry said the matter would be discussed at the special Asean-China foreign ministers’ meeting in Chongqing, China, on Monday.
Foreign minister Hishammuddin Hussein will be leading the Malaysian delegation to the meeting, after an invitation by Chinese foreign affairs minister and state councillor Wang Yi.
Hishammuddin is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Wang on the sidelines of the meeting.
The ministers are expected to explore new initiatives for a more substantive and dynamic partnership between Malaysia and China.
“Both ministers will also be exchanging views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, in addition to addressing the situation in the South China Sea.
“The two ministers will discuss the best way forward in ensuring such incidents do not recur in the interest of maintaining peace and stability, and avoiding any miscalculation or unintended consequences.”
Besides that, the focus areas of their meeting will include Covid-19 vaccine cooperation, infrastructure development, finance, digital economy, food production and high-tech agriculture.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) said Malaysian fighter jets were scrambled to intercept 16 People’s Liberation Army Air Force planes over Malaysian airspace on May 31.
The planes were detected by the Air Defence Centre in Sarawak at 11.53am, flying “in tactical formation” when entering the Malaysian Maritime Zone (ZMM).
RMAF scrambled Hawk 208 fighter jets from the Labuan air base’s 6th Squadron to intercept the planes after there was no response from them to orders to turn back.
Instead, the aircraft headed towards Sarawak waters. The Chinese planes eventually turned around and left in the same direction they had entered the ZMM.
Meanwhile, Hishammuddin will also be leading the Malaysian delegation to the inaugural Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Turkey, which will be officiated by the country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
And in between the special Asean-China meeting and the Antalya diplomacy forum, Hishammuddin will also undertake working visits to Egypt, Kuwait and Qatar.
Wisma Putra said the minister will highlight Malaysia’s unwavering support for the people of Palestine and consistent position with regard to the Israel-Palestine conflict during the bilateral meetings with the heads of state and the governments of the respective countries.