Did he say South East Asian claimants started the South China Sea problem? Malaysia quickly drill for oil right up to Vietnam maritime border. And when Vietnam protest, umno quickly settled with joint concession. 50/50. That was when china was still weak.
Now Vietnam recently started drilling for oil in what is off their coast, China sent coast Guard fleet and fishing vessels to harass the operations. It's too late. You need to start early like what malaysia did.
So it is china who are harassing South East Asian neighbours now that it has the strength.