Malaysia’s balancing act tested as prime minister backs China on Taiwan, eyes US military moves

In an interview, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim declared Taiwan “part of China” and suggested that force could be used to preserve national unity if a province attempted to secede, a view welcomed by Beijing and condemned by Taiwan’s foreign ministry as legitimising aggression. Shortly after, he called for stronger Malaysian defenses in Sabah, citing the Philippines’ expansion of US-backed military sites on Balabac, only 50 km from Malaysian islands.

These statements have sparked concern that Kuala Lumpur is drifting toward Beijing while growing wary of Washington’s regional footprint. Experts note that despite Anwar’s warmer tone toward China, Malaysia continues to maintain robust relations with the United States and other Western partners, and its strategic balancing act, though narrower, persists. Domestic political pressures and recent election setbacks add further strain, while upcoming visits to China and ongoing South China Sea disputes underscore the complexity of Malaysia’s foreign policy.