Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched an investigation into the leak of a classified diplomatic document that China reportedly sent to its embassy in Beijing earlier this year. The investigation follows the publication of an article in a Philippine media outlet in August, which revealed the contents of the confidential note.
In a statement released late Wednesday, the ministry confirmed that it had initiated an internal investigation and would be informing the police about the breach. While the ministry did not name the media outlet or verify the document’s authenticity, it acknowledged the serious nature of the leak, emphasizing the importance of official communication channels between the two countries.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on August 29 that China had sent the Malaysian embassy a diplomatic note, urging Malaysia to halt all oil exploration and drilling activities at Luconia Shoals, an area located approximately 100 kilometers off the coast of Sarawak, Malaysia. According to the report, China claimed that Malaysia’s activities in the region infringed on Chinese sovereignty. The shoals are located around 1,300 kilometers from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan Island.
“The ministry views the leak of this document, which constitutes an official communication channel between the two countries, with grave concern,” the statement said.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea under its “nine-dash line,” a claim that was rejected by an international court in 2016. Malaysia, along with the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan, also asserts territorial rights over parts of the disputed waterway.
Tensions have escalated in recent months, with repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coastguard vessels in contested areas such as the Second Thomas Shoal.
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry reaffirmed that both Beijing and Kuala Lumpur had committed to resolving disputes in the South China Sea through peaceful means. “Malaysia’s stance on the South China Sea remains unchanged,” the statement noted. “Malaysia will continue to defend its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and interests in its maritime areas. This approach aligns with the universally recognized principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS], 1982.”
The leak adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing territorial disputes in the region, with Malaysia emphasizing its commitment to international legal frameworks while navigating delicate diplomatic relations with China.
