https://www.malaysiakini.com/
NEWS
Citing US 'provocation', Dr M calls on Asean to pivot towards China
Published: Aug 31, 2022 5:56 PM
⋅
Updated: 5:56 PM
12
https://wa.me/?text=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/634130
https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/634130
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has urged Asean countries to enhance ties with China in view of increased "US provocation".
Speaking to the UK's Financial Times, Mahathir said the US has increased tensions with China over Taiwan.
Mahathir Mohamad urges Asean to move towards China after US’s Taiwan ‘provocation’ Former Malaysian prime minister blames Washington for ratcheting up tensions in region Mahathir Mohamad said China’s philosophy was not to conquer and occupy nations © Samsul Said/Bloomberg Share on twitter (opens new window) Share on facebook (opens new window) Share on linkedin (opens new window) Save Mercedes Ruehl and Oliver Telling in Singapore AUGUST 30 2022 232 Print this page Receive free Malaysia updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Malaysia news every morning. Malaysia’s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has blamed “US provocation” for the increased tensions over Taiwan and urged south-east Asian countries to move closer to China. The 97-year-old politician, who is the country’s longest-serving leader and last stepped down as prime minister in 2020, told the Financial Times in an interview that China was a “big market” for Malaysia and the region and maintaining that economic relationship was crucial. Mahathir added that China’s philosophy — unlike the west — was not to conquer and occupy nations. “Yes, China is claiming the South China Sea as theirs but they haven’t invaded us . . . They want to influence methods in Asean countries, but they have not occupied us, they have invested in us,” he said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a political and economic bloc. “China is a very good trading partner.” Asean, which includes the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, needs to stay away from the US and the west’s “provocation” of China, Mahathir said, referring to this month’s controversial trip by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. The visit infuriated China, which claims the island as its territory and launched a series of unprecedented military drills around the country in response. Mahathir’s comments highlighted the bind of south-east Asian countries that have long relied on the US for security and China for trade. Many governments in the region have struggled to find a response to the increased tensions between the rival superpowers. The Mahathir administration from 2018 to 2020 strengthened ties with China even though he had called for greater scrutiny of Beijing’s investments in the country. Malaysia has been beset by political turmoil since Mahathir stepped down. The country has had two prime ministers in as many years, hampering the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and causing intense jockeying and infighting between factions. It is set to hold elections as early as this year.
NEWS
Citing US 'provocation', Dr M calls on Asean to pivot towards China
Published: Aug 31, 2022 5:56 PM
⋅
Updated: 5:56 PM
12
https://wa.me/?text=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/634130
https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/634130
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has urged Asean countries to enhance ties with China in view of increased "US provocation".
Speaking to the UK's Financial Times, Mahathir said the US has increased tensions with China over Taiwan.
Mahathir Mohamad urges Asean to move towards China after US’s Taiwan ‘provocation’ Former Malaysian prime minister blames Washington for ratcheting up tensions in region Mahathir Mohamad said China’s philosophy was not to conquer and occupy nations © Samsul Said/Bloomberg Share on twitter (opens new window) Share on facebook (opens new window) Share on linkedin (opens new window) Save Mercedes Ruehl and Oliver Telling in Singapore AUGUST 30 2022 232 Print this page Receive free Malaysia updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Malaysia news every morning. Malaysia’s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has blamed “US provocation” for the increased tensions over Taiwan and urged south-east Asian countries to move closer to China. The 97-year-old politician, who is the country’s longest-serving leader and last stepped down as prime minister in 2020, told the Financial Times in an interview that China was a “big market” for Malaysia and the region and maintaining that economic relationship was crucial. Mahathir added that China’s philosophy — unlike the west — was not to conquer and occupy nations. “Yes, China is claiming the South China Sea as theirs but they haven’t invaded us . . . They want to influence methods in Asean countries, but they have not occupied us, they have invested in us,” he said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a political and economic bloc. “China is a very good trading partner.” Asean, which includes the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, needs to stay away from the US and the west’s “provocation” of China, Mahathir said, referring to this month’s controversial trip by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. The visit infuriated China, which claims the island as its territory and launched a series of unprecedented military drills around the country in response. Mahathir’s comments highlighted the bind of south-east Asian countries that have long relied on the US for security and China for trade. Many governments in the region have struggled to find a response to the increased tensions between the rival superpowers. The Mahathir administration from 2018 to 2020 strengthened ties with China even though he had called for greater scrutiny of Beijing’s investments in the country. Malaysia has been beset by political turmoil since Mahathir stepped down. The country has had two prime ministers in as many years, hampering the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and causing intense jockeying and infighting between factions. It is set to hold elections as early as this year.
