(VOVworld) – Malaysia can play a role in easing regional tensions in the wake of China’s growing assertiveness in the East Sea, said Professor Dr David Arase of the John Hopkins University-Nanjing University Centre for Chinese and American Studies. Dr Arase suggested that, Malaysia, as ASEAN chair next year, should lead negotiation of a maritime Code of Conduct (COC) agreement between ASEAN and China. He said China’s placing of an oil rig along with the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf is matter of grave concern that could push things beyond control.