Anwar’s Taiwan remarks put Malaysia’s Beijing calculus in focus

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s emphatic backing of Beijing’s position on Taiwan has won praise and diplomatic goodwill from mainland China, even as Kuala Lumpur may face greater friction over its courting of Taiwanese semiconductor investments.

Analysts said the remarks did not change Malaysia’s long-standing one-China policy, but their unusually categorical tone went beyond the typical formulation and could reinforce perceptions of closer alignment with Beijing.

The more tangible potential trade-off may be commercial, particularly as Malaysia competes for future Taiwanese hi-tech investment, observers add.

Anwar made the remarks during an Al Jazeera interview released on Sunday, declaring: “I see Taiwan as part of China, period.”

When challenged on the status of the self-governed island, he said: “We may disagree, there are some excesses. Yes, express your view. It is one China. It’s accepted by all.”

Asked whether he would condemn Beijing if it resorted to force over Taiwan, Anwar drew a parallel with Malaysia, saying he would use force to preserve the country’s unity if one of its states sought to break away.