Malaysian PM Rejects China’s Demands to Halt Oil Exploration in South China Sea

Anwar said his country will not yield to China’s demands as the oil and gas exploration projects are within Malaysia’s territory.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim leaves the lower house of parliament after receiving a vote of confidence in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 19, 2022. HASNOOR HUSSAIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pushed back against Beijing, saying his country will continue its oil and gas exploration projects in the South China Sea.

His remarks followed a leaked diplomatic note issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry to the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia expressing Beijing’s claim that the projects “infringed” on Chinese territory, which was published by a Philippine media outlet on Aug. 29.