Malaysian minister: China must treat Southeast Asian neighbours ‘exceedingly well’ to prove its rise is peaceful
- Deputy defence minister Liew Chin Tong says Beijing needs to prevent the perception of smaller states that it is a bully
- He was speaking at a forum on Malaysia-China relations, at which Chinese Minister Counselor Chen Chen described ties as ‘soaring through the roof’
If China wants to prove its rise can be peaceful, then treating its Southeast Asian neighbours “exceedingly well” will be a litmus test of its commitment, Malaysia’s deputy defence minister Liew Chin Tong said on Monday.
“Much as China believes that it is the victim of bullying by the West, particularly the United States, China needs to do everything possible to prevent the perception of smaller states that China is a bully,” said Liew at a forum in conjunction with the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.
“To get the policy mix right at all times, just as Malaysia needs to study China more, China needs to study Southeast Asians more too.”
Also present was China’s Minister Counselor Chen Chen, who described current Malaysia-China ties as “soaring through the roof” in his keynote address for the Forum on Malaysia-China Relations, which saw speakers from both nations discussing past achievements as well as how to build a more sustainable bilateral relationship in the future around themes of politics, culture, diplomacy and the economy.
Liew’s remarks come amid rosy ties between the two nations, after initial concerns of a chill when Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad came to power for the second time last May. When the Pakatan Harapan administration swept to victory in national polls, Mahathir set about suspending or cancelling a host of China-backed projects, citing empty state coffers.
However, with the resumption of work on the East Coast Rail Link, ties – and further Chinese investment into Malaysia – have blossomed, bolstered by the US-China trade war which has seen Chinese manufacturers scramble to relocate production facilities in an attempt to divert exports.
Malaysia has maintained that it will not take sides in the trade war, and instead seeks to “actively engage all sides in the fervent hope that the world is not split between China and the US,” said Liew, describing Malaysia’s role as one of “activist middle power” through proactive diplomacy and advocacy.
China will need to treat Southeast Asian states exceedingly well to prove to the world that China’s rise is no threat to the region