China Praises Malaysia's Support on Taiwan

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has sparked controversy with his recent comments on Taiwan, describing it as a province of China and expressing support for China's use of force in pursuing national reunification.

## Background In an interview with Al Jazeera, Anwar Ibrahim stated that he sees Taiwan as part of China, and that this is accepted by all. He also argued that if a province of Malaysia attempted to secede, it would be his responsibility to protect the nation's unity by force if necessary.

China's Foreign Ministry has praised Anwar's comments, with spokesman Lin Jian reiterating that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.

## Reaction from Taiwan The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded negatively to Anwar's comments, stating that his one-sided support for China could negatively impact Taiwanese businesses' confidence in investing in Malaysia. The ministry also argued that Anwar's apparent support for unilateral efforts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait via the threat of force severely damages political trust between Taiwan and Malaysia.

## Economic Implications Malaysia's attempt to maintain a balance between its economic ties with China and its relations with other Asian countries, including Taiwan, has been complicated by Anwar's comments. Taiwan is a major investor in Malaysia's high-tech industry, and a chill in ties could slow Malaysia's chip ambitions.

The situation reflects the difficulties that Malaysia has faced in its attempt to navigate the complex issue of Taiwan's status. For years, Malaysia has adhered to a One China Policy, but Anwar's comments have sparked speculation that the country may be upgrading its stance to Beijing's One China Principle.

Chinese state media has treated Anwar's comments as an endorsement of the One China Principle, with Xinhua news agency stating that he had reaffirmed the principle. However, it is unclear whether Anwar's comments were premeditated or simply a slip of the tongue, and whether Taiwan will follow through with retaliatory actions.

The incident demonstrates the delicacy of the issue to both Taipei and Beijing, and the increasing challenges that Malaysia faces in staying in the good graces of both.

| Country | Policy | Year | | --- | --- | --- | | Malaysia | One China Policy | 1974 | | Malaysia | Recognition of Taiwan as part of China | 2004 | | Malaysia | Omission of peaceful national reunification | 2024 | | China | One China Principle | - |