Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says China should define its "so-called ownership" in the disputed South China Sea so other claimant countries can start to gain benefits from the resource-rich waters.
Mahathir stressed in an interview with ABS-CBN network in Manila on Thursday the importance of freedom of navigation in the busy sea lanes, saying if there were no restrictions "the claims made by China will not affect us very much."
Malaysia, the Philippines, China and three other governments have been locked in long-seething territorial disputes in the waterway.
Mahathir is visiting Manila for talks with President Rodrigo Duterte and other top officials, who are expected to thank Malaysia for brokering peace talks between the Philippine government and Muslim guerrillas, who have become governors of a new Muslim autonomous region.
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