Might as well just hand over their corner of the south china sea, then.
That’s exactly what they’re saying. They are allowing military transit of Chinese ships and aren’t building up defensive islands and it’s working out for them. To China’s point, that’s what they’re trying to get everyone to do. They want to be the only military in the area, they’re not going to do anything else.
China’s whole argument is that handing over your corner of the SCS isn’t going to make any major difference. Malaysia is agreeing and it’s important to note that also is still making military and security agreements with Australia. In other words, besides Chinese patrols nothing will change.
NOW, that said, what right does China have to do that? It’s on legally shaky ground at best. I’m not trying to argue that China should have the right to do this. I’m just pointing out that what you’re trying to make a “gotcha” isn’t a “gotcha” but instead quite literally exactly what’s happening.
Eh, it’s a little complicated. The Maldives just kicked out our (India) army, which historically provided security, and instead gave the contract to China. Nepal now has a pro-Chinese government. Bangladesh seems to be moving in that direction. Do the Maldives / Bangladesh / Nepal / Malaysia have the right to grow closer to China? Absolutely. Will they benefit from doing so? Possibly. But it will also make India, Japan, Australia, etc. feel encircled and threatened. I just hope this doesn’t escalate further.
China’s been negotiating SCS claims with its neighbours. That’s why, as of now, Taiwan’s claims in the SCS are actually larger than China’s claims (because of China’s negotiations with Vietnam).