Replanting the Malaysian flag on Luconia Shoals long overdue: China continues to disrupt Malaysian O&G activities off-shore Sarawak, Sabah, emboldened by Najib's apparent surrender of the Shoals to China in 2016

 by Ganesh Sahathevan 

It has been previously reported on this blog that Najib Razak probably handed over control of the Luconia Shoals to the Chinese Government.

China, apparently emboldened by Najib's gift, continues to disrupt Malaysian oil and gas exploration activities around Luconia Shoals, and the South China Sea.

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative and The Centre for Strategic and International Studies  reported on 25 November 2020:

The China Coast Guard (CCG) and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) are involved in another standoff over hydrocarbon exploration in the South China Sea. China Coast Guard ship 5402 harassed a drilling rig and its supply ships operating just 44 nautical miles from Malaysia’s Sarawak State on November 19. Malaysia deployed a naval vessel in response, which continues to tail the 5402. The incident seems to have followed two weeks of increasing tensions between the CCG and RMN in the area.

It is time Malaysia re-asserted its sovereignty over the South China Sea by replanting  the Malaysian flag on Luconia Shoals.

TO BE READ WITH 

Pedra Branca/Batu Puteh decision suggests Malaysia has surrendered right to Luconia-removing own flag from Luconia Shoals in stark contrast with past practise