Page 20 - IDFR-Diplomatic Voice Vol 2 2014

NEWS Maritime Security in Southeast Asia Contributed by Yee Tsai Siew and Zebine Nissa within the region. Professor Dr. Arase moved on to present his observations on the stand point of the US with regard to the overlapping territorial claims of the South China Sea. The US’ position on the matter is neutral, as it would not take sides in sovereign- ty disputes. He also stated that the US has hopes for China to appreciate the benefits of status quo. In his conclusion, he said that with an issue that is currently very much alive, it would be interesting to witness how these territorial disputes would unfold themselves. With time, China would be expected to clarify the definition and the legality of its “nine-dash line,” On 19 June 2014, IDFR in collabora- overlapping claims by various coun- which forms the legal basis of its tion with the United States Embassy in tries in the South China Sea, in parti- territorial claim within the region. Kuala Lumpur organised a talk on cular, four ASEAN claimant countries, Maritime Security in Southeast Asia by namely, Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines The talk was attended by dignitaries Professor Dr. David Arase, Resident and Vietnam. Professor Dr. Arase from the various Embassies and High Professor at the Johns Hopkins-Nan- elaborated on the claims by the Philip- Commissions in Kuala Lumpur, acade- jing University Center for Chinese and pines and Vietnam on China’s claim as micians, officials from Ministry of American Studies. defined by the "nine-dash line.” The Foreign Affairs and other government talk also discussed on the relevance agencies, foreign participants from the The talk began with welcoming and the legality of claims with regard Malaysia Technical Cooperation remarks delivered by Dato’ Hussin to the United Nation Convention on Programme (MTCP), as well as partici- Nayan, Director General of IDFR. Prior Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). pants of Diploma in Diplomacy (DiD). to the commencement of his talk, Professor Dr. Arase made it a point to Professor Dr. Arase also mentioned All in all, the talk gave a broad per- note that his views on maritime securi- about the new mantra coined by Presi- spective on the subject of maritime ty in Southeast Asia expressed were dent Xi Jinping, namely the “Chinese security in Southeast Asia. It also shed those of his own and did not represent dream,” as well as China’s aspiration light on the respective interests of the the views of the US. to rise as an influential maritime power. countries, which were both, directly China has sought to play the primary and indirectly, involved in the territorial The talk focused on the current South role in Asia and to cultivate an dispute within the region. China Sea boundary disputes, with economic dependence on China New Challenges for Diplomats of the 21st Century Contributed by Fazlisya Ramly On 16 June 2014, the participants of Ms. Yee Tsai Siew who is also one of guessing the capital cities of the coun- the Diploma in Diplomacy (DiD) the DiD 2/2014 participants. tries in the world. He also elaborated programme 2/2014 attended a tea talk the work and life of a diplomat. session titled, New Challenges for His Excellency Ong Keng Yong caught Diplomats of the 21st Century deli- the attention of the audience to his He shared that since the post-World vered by His Excellency Ong Keng first piece of advice, namely, a diplo- War II era, the then existing means of Yong, High Commissioner of the mat should be well-versed in the communication could not afford the Republic of Singapore to Malaysia. geography of the world. He recounted exchanges of information to happen in The session began with opening his early days as a diplomat, when he real time. However, with the communi- remarks from the Project Manager, would often duel with his spouse in cation advancement at the turn of the 20 bulletin@idfr.gov.my