Malaysia’s Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (Photo: freemalaysiatoday)

He told the online conference that the increasing intensity of strategic competition in the East Sea is creating a challenging security context, greatly affecting ASEAN countries. He warned that regional security issues could lead to miscalculations and conflicts if not handled properly.

The East Sea is not a region of confrontations or conflicts, Hussein affirmed. He urged ASEAN countries to honor the goals and principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality in Southeast Asia (ZOPFAN), and the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), which facilitate ASEAN’s interactions with the world community.