Chinese navy’s port call in Penang: Normal, no need to panic, says Malaysia’s foreign minister

SEREMBAN – The recent docking of two Chinese naval ships in Penang is a common matter and does not pose any problem for Malaysia, according to Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, who said his country has had bilateral relations with China for a long time.

“There is no problem at all; it is not the first or second time that foreign military ships have docked in our country,” he said. “This is a normal occurrence in our bilateral relations with other countries.

“Unless we suddenly had no diplomatic relations, it would be unusual for a ship to dock. We have a very good relationship with China as they are our largest trading partner. So, the docking of these ships is not surprising or extraordinary. There is no need to panic.”

Datuk Seri Mohamad was speaking to reporters after distributing contributions for Deepavali at the Rantau community hall on Oct 12.

The Penang government had previously announced the arrival of 1,000 Chinese naval trainees in the state for a goodwill visit.

On Oct 5, the 83rd Task Force of the People’s Liberation Army arrived on two ships: the Qi Jiguang Training Vessel and the Jinggangshan from Zhanjiang, China.

Mr Mohamad said the situation became alarming when it was associated with the presence of Chinese maritime vessels in the South China Sea recently.

“The concern arose when we received a note of protest, and this is not the first time we have received such notes – dozens from China,” he said.

“We also send protest notes to them. Protest notes between countries are common, but we take every note seriously. However, this does not create any strain in our bilateral relations.”

He added that every country will protect its borders and ensure its sovereignty. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK