KUALA LUMPUR – As China continues to assert its dominance in the South China Sea, questions have emerged over whether Malaysia’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict could distance it from the US, a potential ally in managing tensions on the high seas.
Samirul Ariff Othman, a former senior research officer at the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER), said Putrajaya finds itself in a difficult position. China, a key trading partner, poses a threat to Malaysia’s sovereignty and security with its maritime ambitions.
While Malaysia works to balance its relations with China, Samirul stressed that maintaining strong ties with the West is crucial to ensuring Malaysia’s economy remains diverse and resilient.
“A more assertive China in Malaysia’s backyard, coupled with potential instability in the Middle East, means that Malaysia needs to keep all options on the table.
“This is not just about defending territorial waters—it’s about securing trade routes that are vital to Malaysia’s economy, particularly as tensions rise globally,” he said.
However, Malaysia’s strong pro-Palestinian stance has already complicated its relationship with the US. Samirul noted that this has manifested through American sanctions on Malaysian companies.
Additionally, Malaysia’s plan to acquire the F/A-18 Hornet jets from Kuwait will require approval from the United States, as it is the original supplier of the aircraft. The Hornets would significantly enhance Malaysia’s capability to defend its sovereignty in the South China Sea.
Pointing out China’s continued assertiveness on territorial disputes, Samirul advised that while Malaysia should maintain strong economic ties with Beijing, it should avoid overreliance on the one-party state.
“The challenge for Malaysia is to ensure that it isn’t forced into choosing sides in what could become a new Cold War-like scenario between the US and China.
“Economic diplomacy, grounded in strategic ambiguity, is Malaysia’s best option here—engage with China economically, but keep its foreign policy flexible enough to pivot if needed,” Samirul told Scoop.
Meanwhile, Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, said Malaysia should not worry about repercussions from its pro-Palestinian stance, given that it is based on humanitarian grounds.
Azmi noted that Malaysia’s opposition to Israeli actions against Palestinians makes it unlikely that the US or other Western nations would impose penalties.
However, he did acknowledge that Washington remains concerned about Malaysia’s relationships with Hamas and Iran.
“That’s why, in May, US Treasury Department undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brian Nelson, gave a friendly reminder to Malaysia over Iranian sanctions and Hamas.
“They have issues with Iran using Malaysia as a transit point for their oil trade.
“But that has nothing to do with our support for Palestine as an independent nation,” Azmi told Scoop.
When it comes to China, Azmi cautioned that relying on the US to manage Beijing’s aggressive stance in the South China Sea could backfire.
Using the example of the Philippines, Azmi said despite Manila’s reliance on the US for defence, its naval vessels still face physical confrontations with the Chinese Coast Guard.
Further, while China has protested Malaysia’s oil and gas operations off Sarawak’s coast, Azmi interpreted this as a positive sign, suggesting that Beijing prefers diplomatic channels.
“We have been trading with China without issue. If there’s a problem in our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), we use diplomatic channels to protest.
“For our issues with China, I believe they can be resolved diplomatically, using international law,” Azmi concluded. – October 18, 2024