Mohamad Hasan is set to meet with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to discuss bilateral issues and regional developments.
By Nikko Fabian
KOTA KINABALU : Malaysia strongly opposed the Philippines’ submission to the United Nation regarding the continental shelf claim to formally recognise the extent of its undersea continental shelf with specifict focus on the issue of Sabah.
The recent development between Malaysia and the Philippines has sparked another tension between the two neighbouring nations.
In a note verbale to UN Secretary General António Guterres, Malaysia’s permanent mission to the United Nations expressed its rejection of the Philippines’ claim to Sabah.
Malaysia asserted that Sabah has always been an integral part of Malaysia since the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 and that the Philippines’ claim to sovereignty over Sabah is not valid under international law.
On the contrary, the Philippines submitted information to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, seeking to establish the outer limits of its continental shelf in the South China Sea.
This submission is in accordance with Article 76 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which grants coastal states the right to determine the extent of their continental shelf.
The Philippines’ submission is significant in securing its sovereign rights and maritime jurisdictions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
It is noted that the 2016 award on the South China Sea arbitration affirmed the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under UNCLOS.
Despite the territorial dispute over Sabah, the two countries are engaging in diplomatic discussions to address the current state of their relations.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan is set to meet with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to discuss bilateral issues and regional developments.
This meeting aims to strengthen cooperation and maintain high-level exchanges between Malaysia and the Philippines.
The visit of the Malaysian Foreign Minister to the Philippines underscores the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving territorial disputes and promoting peaceful relations between neighboring countries.
