December 30, 2016

"Synopsis

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak visited China in November 2016 where he signed a series of deals, including a significant defence agreement, raising concerns that Malaysia could be veering away from its partnership with the United States. Yang Razali Kassim discusses Malaysia’s ties with China in an email interview with World Politics Review published on 21 December 2016.

Comment

WPR: What is the nature and extent of economic and military ties between Malaysia and China, how have ties evolved in recent years, and what impact has the South China Sea disputes had on them?

Yang Razali Kassim: Economic ties between Malaysia and China are far more developed than military ties. The two countries have significant trade ties, and official trade statistics for 2016 show that China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009, while Malaysia is China’s largest trading partner among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Malaysia’s security, defence and military relations have always been pro-Western and tied to the United States’ security umbrella, while security ties with China have for a long time been largely nonexistent. This is a holdover from China’s past, which exported revolution to Southeast Asia, including Malaya (later known as Malaysia)."

Read more:

http://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/co16318-is-malaysia-tilting-towards-china/#.WGmpPH3bf_g

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