Malaysia says it won’t bow to demands to halt oil exploration in South China Sea

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim gestures while speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia (Kristina Kormilitsyna/AP)

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that Malaysia will not bow to demands by China to stop its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea as the activities are within the country’s waters.

Mr Anwar said Malaysia would continue to explain its stance following China’s accusations in a protest note in February to the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing that Kuala Lumpur had infringed on its territory.