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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

Malaysia’s middle path between China and the US faces new tests

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Taiwan is part of China and suggested force could be used to preserve national unity, drawing praise from Beijing and criticism from Taiwan.
  • Anwar also called for stronger Malaysian defenses in Sabah after pointing to expanded US-backed facilities on the nearby Philippine island of Balabac.
  • Malaysian experts caution that the remarks do not necessarily signal a fundamental shift away from Kuala Lumpur’s longstanding ties with Washington and other Western countries.

Malaysia’s balancing act between China and the United States is facing fresh pressure after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made two comments that appeared to draw Kuala Lumpur closer to Beijing.

In an interview with Al Jazeera that aired on August 16, Anwar said, “I see Taiwan as part of China, period.” He also appeared to accept that force could be necessary if a province sought to break away. “If one province decides to break away. Do we use force? I think I will, [to] protect the sanctity and unity of the nation,” he said.

I see Taiwan as part of China, period.

· Anwar IbrahimThe Malaysian prime minister stated his position on Taiwan in an Al Jazeera interview.

Beijing welcomed the remarks. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry accused Anwar of effectively legitimizing the use of force against Taiwan and warned that his “one-sided support for China could negatively impact Taiwanese businesses’ confidence in investing in Malaysia,” including in the strategically important semiconductor sector.

If one province decides to break away. Do we use force? I think I will, [to] protect the sanctity and unity of the nation.

· Anwar IbrahimHe discussed whether force could be used to preserve a country’s territorial unity.

Two days after the interview aired, Anwar called for Malaysia to strengthen its defenses in Sabah. He cited the expansion of US-backed military facilities on the Philippine island of Balabac, roughly 50 kilometers from Malaysia’s Banggi and Balambangan islands. Balabac was among four sites added in 2023 to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which gives US forces access to designated Philippine military facilities and allows them to build infrastructure and pre-position equipment.

The comments have fueled concern that Malaysia is becoming warmer toward Beijing while growing more suspicious of Washington’s military presence. Kuala Lumpur has also strongly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, with Anwar accusing the United States and European governments of double standards. Still, Malaysia experts warn against calling the rhetoric a strategic realignment. “Malaysia still maintains very good relations with the US and other Western countries,” said Ngeow Chow Bing, director of the Institute of China Studies at Universiti Malaya. He said those ties may be less visible than Anwar’s warmer public language toward Beijing, but remain strong.

Malaysia still maintains very good relations with the US and other Western countries.

· Ngeow Chow BingThe Malaysia expert cautioned against interpreting Anwar’s comments as a fundamental strategic realignment.
About this summary

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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