Chinese Ships Put On Show of Force in Neighbor's Economic Waters
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A Chinese coast guard and paramilitary ship are nearing two weeks of patrols in the energy-rich waters of Malaysia's exclusive economic zone.
Chinese government or state-sponsored vessels were observed in the area on 359 days last year, a slight uptick from 2023, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.
Why It Matters
China claims most of the South China Sea, citing historical rights—despite an international tribunal's 2016 decision rejecting the country's sweeping claims. These claims overlap with competing claims by several neighboring countries.
The encroachment has been met with a more muted response from Kuala Lumpur compared with U.S. ally the Philippines. Yet Beijing's challenge could set the stage for increased tensions as Malaysia expands its oil and gas exploration and development.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese embassy in Malaysia and the Malaysian foreign ministry via emailed requests for comment outside of office hours.
What To Know
Chinese coast guard vessel 5403 and a maritime militia vessel Yue Hui Wan Yu 22888 on Tuesday remained around 100 miles off the coast of Sarawak state in Malaysian Borneo after first being observed on July 10, according to ship-tracking data shared with Newsweek by maritime analyst Ray Powell.
This is well within Malaysia's exclusive economic zone, within which Malaysia alone is entitled to natural resources under maritime law.
Powell described the patrols as "intrusive" and intended to normalize China's sovereignty claims in its neighbor's maritime zone.
A Chinese Coast Guard ship is seen near the Philippine-occupied island of Thitu in the disputed South China Sea on June 3, 2025.
A Chinese Coast Guard ship is seen near the Philippine-occupied island of Thitu in the disputed South China Sea on June 3, 2025.
Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images
One of three gas fields that began production last year, state-owned operator Petronas started producing gas at Kasawari in August 2024, with an initial flow rate of 200 million standard cubic feet per day. The field is estimated to hold about 10 trillion cubic feet of gas.
In a diplomatic note from China's foreign ministry to the Malaysian embassy in Beijing—leaked to The Philippine Daily Inquirer—China reiterated its "firm opposition" to Malaysia's exploration and development activities, calling them an infringement on China's sovereignty.
The leak prompted a rare public statement on the issue from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who played down the impact of the controversy on bilateral relations while pledging to continue the projects.
What People Have Said
Ray Powell, the director of the Stanford University-affiliated maritime analysis group SeaLight, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "People's Republic of China maritime militia ships 'act as frontline enforcers of China's maritime claims and work in close coordination with the China Coast Guard'—as with Yue Hui Wan Yu 22888 clearly coordinating with China Coast Guard 5403 on this patrol."
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in September after China's objections over the gas exploration: "We will continue, but we will not close the door on discussions with any country.
"We have issues but these issues do not affect diplomatic relations. These issues do not affect trade relations and close friendships with our neighbors."
What's Next
Production from Kasawari and the other new offshore fields is expected to deliver a significant boost to both Malaysia's domestic energy supply and exports.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies has cautioned, however, that Malaysia's increased activity could prompt more assertive behavior from China.
"With Malaysia's expanding drilling and a potential reduction in China-Philippine tensions, Beijing could ratchet up the pressure on Malaysian hydrocarbon production," CSIS's Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative wrote in a report late last year.
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