Oil-rich islands split Malaysia and Indonesia
After several days of gunboat diplomacy over disputed offshore oil and gas reserves in the South China Sea, Malaysia and Indonesia promised Monday to pursue high-level talks in the coming days to defuse tensions over their conflicting territorial claims.
With Indonesian and Malaysian warships and fighter aircraft now deployed near the contested waters, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia telephoned President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia Monday in an attempt to prevent the military posturing from getting out of control.
There are no Commonwealth Forces ready to save Malaysia’s butt this time around in the event of Confrontation 2. It’s about oil and that is a truly contentious pull.
Although not a part in this specific episode, the Philippines also are involved in this very long running dispute.
China is also involved, which being hundreds of miles away, should tell you all you need to know about how crazy this conflict has become.
Comment by Marc — 9 Mar, 2005 @ 02:58
Some donkey writer described ASEAN as robust! Some robustness! Especially when greed is involved.
Comment by wits0 — 11 Mar, 2005 @ 13:28