Malaysia’s Anwar puts non-aligned stance in focus with remarks on Taiwan

What the report says

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent remarks on Taiwan have prompted debate about whether Kuala Lumpur is drifting closer to Beijing or still adhering to its long-standing non-aligned foreign policy. In an Al Jazeera interview earlier this month, Anwar said he viewed Taiwan as part of China and later suggested that force could be used to preserve Malaysia’s own territorial unity, comments that drew attention in Malaysia and abroad.

According to Al Jazeera, Beijing welcomed the statements, while Taiwan’s government criticized them and warned they could hurt confidence among Taiwanese businesses investing in Malaysia, especially in the semiconductor sector. Anwar later told local media that Malaysia respected China’s position but preferred a peaceful resolution to tensions in the Taiwan Strait. The report notes that some analysts see his language as consistent with Malaysia’s existing one-China policy, while others view the force-related remark as the more significant departure.

The article also places the episode in a wider regional context. Anwar separately called for stronger defences in Sabah after citing US-backed military upgrades in the nearby Philippine island of Balabac, a development tied to Manila’s security cooperation with Washington. That comes amid Malaysia’s disputes with the Philippines over Sabah and its balancing act in the South China Sea, where it maintains defence ties with Western partners while also deepening economic links with China.