Chinese ships patrolling an area contested by Malaysia are likely to cause more anxiety across Southeast Asia and risk the ire of a country that has long sought to downplay strategic concerns generated by China’s rising power. Three Chinese ships on Sunday patrolled the James Shoal in the South China Sea, about 80km off Sarawak on Borneo island, which Beijing counts as the southernmost part of its territory. Soldiers on board swore to safeguard China’s sovereignty, in the latest sign of Beijing’s increasing territorial assertiveness in the waters.

On Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang emphasised at a regular press conference China’s “indisputable sovereignty” of the shoal, but said it is willing to use negotiations to resolve the dispute and is committed to protecting regional peace and stability. WhileMalaysia’s foreign ministry did not respond to press queries, Qin said Malaysia has not lodged an official protest over Sunday’s patrol. But some experts say the move will antagonise Kuala Lumpur , an Asean member with “significant influence” , and might shift the state of play in the maritime territorial dispute.

… But Malaysia has traditionally avoided confrontations as the two states have set their dispute aside in the interest of stronger diplomatic and trading ties, noted Oh Ei Sun from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner, while the latter is China’s third largest in Asia.

Chinese ships patrolling an area contested by Malaysia are likely to cause more anxiety across South-east Asia. Three Chinese ships on Sunday patrolled the James Shoal in the South China Sea, about 80 km off Sarawak on Borneo island, which Beijing counts as the southernmost part of its territory. Malaysia has traditionally avoided confrontations as the two states have set their dispute aside in the interest of stronger diplomatic and trading ties, noted Dr Oh Ei Sun from the RSIS. China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner while the latter is China’s third largest in Asia.