Ruhanas Harun, an international relations professor at Malaysia's National Defence University, told a maritime symposium in China's Hainan province that Asean member states prefer 'quiet diplomacy' for maritime disputes, but power asymmetry makes South China Sea issues hard to resolve. Chinese analysts say Beijing supports this approach as long as sovereignty claims are settled bilaterally.
At a maritime symposium in China's southern Hainan province on Wednesday, Ruhanas Harun, an international relations professor at Malaysia's National Defence University, explained why South China Sea disputes are difficult to resolve. She highlighted power asymmetry as a key barrier, leading Asean member states to adopt 'quiet diplomacy' for their maritime disagreements.
'We'd rather talk quietly and find consensus because there are issues that you cannot publicly openly tell the world,' Harun said. 'We try to negotiate first and reconcile what the country should present to the world.'
Harun noted that Asean members prefer engaging in dialogue at bilateral, multilateral, and even minilateral levels, though she did not specify which disputes this mechanism has failed to address. As an example, she cited the territorial dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia over the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan. The two countries agreed to take the matter to the International Court of Justice, securing a resolution in 2002 that favored Malaysia.
Chinese analysts added that Beijing supports Asean's 'quiet diplomacy' as well, provided sovereignty claims are resolved bilaterally. This approach underscores the cautious strategies regional nations employ to handle sensitive maritime issues, avoiding public confrontations to preserve stability. Harun's insights illustrate the challenges smaller states face in seeking consensus amid major power interests.
