KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The way that China and Malaysia have developed bilateral relations while managing differences serves an example that amicable consultation is the only right approach to solve the disputes over South China Sea, a Chinese envoy said Monday.
In an article published in the local Star newspaper and Sinchew Daily, Huang Huikang, China's ambassador to Malaysia, said the South China Sea disputes have been hyped up as a hotspot issue in regional security and discussed in almost every regional and international forum, resulting from the high-profile interference of and the manipulation by some powers outside the region.
Among others, the Philippines-China relationship is experiencing severe difficulties since Manila initiated the illegal arbitration unilaterally. On the other hand, Malaysia-China relationship is "at the best time of history" and on the path to the new era of "Diamond 40 Years."
As pointed out by Huang, there is no essential difference between the two pairs of ties. As China's close neighbors, Malaysia and the Philippines have enjoyed traditional friendship with China. Both were the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with China among ASEAN states.
"The reason behind such a striking contrast lies in the different ways the two claimants chose to deal with the disputes with China," said Huang.
While Malaysia has consistently been committed to maintaining friendly relationship, properly handling disputes, strengthening cooperation, and enhancing comprehensive strategic partnership with China, the Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, on the contrary, misjudged the international situation and acted as a pawn of an outsider's geopolitical strategy, and chose to confront China, he said.
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