There is no question that Malaysia and China are failing to meet their international obligations to find MH370.

And there is no question that Malaysia’s investigation of the plane’s disappearance is among the most mismanaged in modern history. The Malaysian end of the investigation has been shambolic, where a variety of government ministers, officials and the country’s military have contributed to a chaotic stream of misinformation.

If the Malaysian Government also wants to avoid accusations of a cover-up, it needs to continue the search and to end almost three years of emotional agony for the victims’ families. The suggestion that something is dodgy in Kuala Lumpur will only gain credibility if the Malaysians fail to act on a recommendation by the team of international experts led by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau which is co-ordinating the search.

New information led the experts to conclude that a relatively small area of 25,000sqkm just outside the main search area is likely to contain the wreckage and should be searched.

The cost of the search is unclear but analysts believe it is about $190 million. Malaysia has paid $100 million, Australia $70 million and China $20 million.

China’s contribution has been pitiful given MH370 was a code-share with China Southern Airlines and carried the airline’s flight number CZ748. There were 153 Chinese on board. China needs to contribute more.

The hollow rhetoric of Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tong Lai saying it is an “aspirational goal” to find MH370 simply is not good enough.

Even Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester’s excuse that the new area of 25,000sqkm was not specific enough to meet the criteria set down by officials from the three governments is lame.

In the vastness of the Indian Ocean, an area of 25,000sqkm is very specific and the analysis that has helped pinpoint the new area has broken new ground.

Malaysia and China should bite the bullet, provide the $40 million to $50 million needed to extend the search and do the right thing for the families of the 239 passengers and crew lost.

Now that we have new facts, including a drift study by the CSIRO from the debris recovered in the west Indian Ocean, that indicate the plane is most likely in the new area, the search must go on.