Beijing: Malaysia has outlined five strategic recommendations to build trust, strengthen cooperation, and ensure lasting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the South China Sea. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin emphasized the importance of managing great power rivalry responsibly to prevent undermining regional peace and stability.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the recommendations include balancing strength with dialogue, ensuring defence preparedness is matched with consistent communication and diplomacy. Mohamed Khaled stressed the importance of international law as a guiding principle, with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) as the foundation for maritime order, freedom of navigation, and peaceful dispute resolution.

Cooperation, as outlined by Mohamed Khaled, must be inclusive, addressing shared challenges like climate change, pandemics, food security, and the digital economy as common grounds for trust and collaboration. He also emphasized advancing multilateralism and preserving ASEAN centrality, advocating for collective problem-solving, inclusive rule-making, and ASEAN's neutrality to maintain autonomy and balance in the region.

He highlighted the significance of keeping the South China Sea free, open, and secure, given its role as a vital maritime corridor and key to global economic prosperity. Additionally, Mohamed Khaled underlined three core principles underpinning ASEAN's approach to regional peace and security: collective security efforts, revitalized ASEAN solidarity, and the necessity for openness and honesty in building lasting trust.

The 12th Xiangshan Forum, where these recommendations were presented, gathers defence ministers, senior military officials, and security experts globally to discuss strategic issues and regional cooperation.