In the vibrant city of Melbourne, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, articulated a robust defense of the nation’s affiliations with China. He voiced his concerns regarding perceived pressure from the United States and its allies on regional countries to align themselves amidst the Western strategic rivalries with Beijing. These remarks by Prime Minister Anwar transpired during the prestigious Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, a notable gathering in Melbourne where leaders from nine Asian nations convened.
In the current scenario, Anwar noted that China stands as the foremost investor in Malaysia. He emphatically asserted that Malaysians harbor no grievances towards China, underscoring Malaysia’s stance as an independent and unyieldingly sovereign nation. “We are fiercely independent, and we do not wish to be subjected to external dictates,” remarked Anwar during a joint news conference with the staunch U.S. ally, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Anwar emphasized that while Malaysia maintains significant friendships with the United States, Europe, and Australia, it should not preclude the nation from fostering amicable relations with one of its crucial neighbors – China. He underscored, “If others have issues with China, it should not be imposed upon us. We, as a nation, do not harbor any grievances against China,” he informed reporters.
During the joint news conference, Anwar and Albanese unveiled several new bilateral agreements between Australia and Malaysia. These pacts encompassed diverse domains such as cybersecurity, technology, clean energy, sports, and education, signifying a collaborative effort to strengthen ties.
Addressing the term “China-phobia” that Anwar had previously employed in an interview with the Financial Times, the Prime Minister clarified that he employed the phrase in response to criticisms of Malaysia’s heightened focus on China, its principal trading partner.
In the realm of regional diplomacy, the Philippines, an integral member of ASEAN, urged its neighboring nations to collectively fortify their commitment to upholding the rule of law in the South China Sea. This plea emanates from China’s assertive pursuit of territorial claims in conflict with other nations within the region. In a visit to the Philippines in November, Vice President Kamala Harris echoed similar sentiments, urging countries to stand resolute for territorial integrity and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Harris declared that the United States would actively advocate for an international campaign against irresponsible behavior in the disputed waters.
