Malaysia fears military ‘miscalculation’ near Sabah amid US-China rivalry
Malaysia faces a growing risk of miscalculation near its state of Sabah as US-China rivalry drives more military activities into the waters around Borneo, its defence minister has warned, bolstering the government’s push for higher spending on its armed forces. The concern is particularly acute for Malaysia, a South China Sea claimant that has long sought to keep close economic ties with China…
Malaysia is growing increasingly concerned about the potential for military miscalculations near its state of Sabah as the US-China rivalry leads to more military activities in the surrounding waters. Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin warned that the complex and potentially volatile security environment created by the presence of military assets from various nations could result in misunderstandings or small incidents turning into more serious conflicts.
The Malaysia government is urging for higher military spending to strengthen Sabah's defences, as the strategic region has become a focal point of tensions between the United States and China. The Balabac Island, which lies just north of Sabah, is a key site for US-Philippine military cooperation and is only 50km from Malaysian islands, raising concerns about the potential impact on Malaysia's security.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
