China Praises Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim For Supportive Comments on Taiwan

China's Foreign Ministry has commended Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his recent comments, in which he referred to Taiwan as a province of China and supported the use of force to achieve national "reunification". During an interview with Al Jazeera, Anwar stated that he believes "Taiwan is part of China, period" and that the existence of "one China" is universally accepted.

He also expressed support for China's right to utilize force to accomplish national reunification, arguing that if a Malaysian province attempted to secede, it would be his responsibility to "protect the sanctity and unity of the nation" – by force if necessary. China's spokesman Lin Jian affirmed that there is only one China in the world and reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, which must and will be reunited.

Anwar's remarks have elicited a negative response in Taiwan, with the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating that Anwar's "one-sided support for China could negatively impact Taiwanese businesses' confidence in investing in Malaysia." The ministry emphasized that if Malaysia's leader, who claims to be a defender of human rights, truly adhered to these values, he should uphold universal values such as democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, and respect the will of the people.

The tension between Malaysia and both China and Taiwan underscores the challenges Malaysia faces in balancing its economic ties with China while maintaining relationships with other Asian countries, including Taiwan. Malaysia has long adhered to the One China Policy, as outlined in the joint communiqué signed when diplomatic relations were established in 1974.

However, Malaysia has moved from merely acknowledging China's position that Taiwan is inalienable part of the People's Republic of China to recognizing the fact. This shift became more explicit in joint statements released during Premier Li Qiang's visit in June 2024 and President Xi Jinping's visit the following April, with the word "peaceful" being omitted from the phrase "national reunification."

Anwar's comments appear to endorse China's claim to sovereignty over Taiwan, going beyond simple acknowledgment or recognition. It remains uncertain whether Anwar's statements were intentional or a slip of the tongue, and whether Taiwan will retaliate. Nonetheless, these comments highlight the sensitivity of the issue for both Taipei and Beijing, as well as the challenges Malaysia faces in maintaining good relations with both China and Taiwan.