Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the United States and China should be talking to each other to guarantee the stability of the region.

Dr Mahathir said negotiation should be the way to move forward, instead of sending warships.

The prime minister said the fact remained that the South China Sea, as well as the Straits of Malacca, were vital for East-West trade and that China itself would suffer if the waterways were closed.