China's interest at South China Sea: The impact towards Malaysia's Maritime Security

This study analyse the conflicts over the South China Sea (SCS) that have garnered much attention lately due to the People Republic of China (PRC China) actions in the area. The study argues these actions include extensive artificial construction activities of China at the Spratly and Paracel Islands and deploying its maritime assets to assert its claim. These actions have, seeking to gain effective strategic, political, and economic control of the SCS toward Malaysia’s maritime security. This study has three objectives. First, to analyse the interest of China at the SCS, second, to identify the strategies used by China in the SCS and third, to examine the impact impose by China towards Malaysia’ maritime security. The conceptual fi:amework is used to analyse the China interest at SCS and the impact towards Malaysia’s maritime security from an economic and security perspective. By using a qualitative approach, secondary data was collected from reliable printed and online documents, also the primary data obtained was obtained throu^ interviews with experts fi-om the Malaysia Defence Intelligence Organisation (MDIO) and Headquarters Operation Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic. The findings of this study are that, first, the rise of China as a new military power and its assertiveness over SCS dispute, second, the trend of military tensions of the China in SCS regions remains for an extended period, third China will maintain its presence with a delaying strategy to develop its military. This study concludes that it’s time for the Malaysia to take a strong stand by themselves or with other ASEAN countries and also with Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) nations like Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom (UK) and focus on the Code of Conduct (CoC) at SCS for China and ASEAN members involved in the SCS disputes.