Jangan heret Malaysia dalam konflik China-Taiwan, Haim beritahu Anwar

Former Prime Minister Haim Hilman Abdullah cautioned that Malaysia should not interfere in the China-Taiwan conflict, stating that the government's primary duty is to safeguard the nation's economic interests, security, and international relations. Haim clarified that Malaysia's adherence to the One China principle does not require it to express an opinion on the use of force against Taiwan.

He emphasized that issues related to force involve history, sovereignty, maritime security, and the stability of the China-Taipei relationship, for which Malaysia should not act as a judge. According to Haim, participating in this dispute would lead to the loss of Malaysia's established diplomatic space, which has historically been a strength for the country.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Anwar Ibrahim expressed his view that Taiwan is a part of China. International media reported that Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Anwar of potentially endangering the safety and stability of the region by stating that Taiwan is a Chinese province seeking independence. The ministry also claimed that Anwar's statement might undermine Taiwanese companies' confidence in investing in Malaysia.

The ministry further accused Anwar of implicitly acknowledging Beijing's stance on using force to take over Taiwan. Haim, who is also a Jitra MP, urged Malaysia to maintain its position of respecting the One China principle while promoting dialogue and rejecting actions that could heighten tensions. He questioned the consistency of Malaysia's foreign policy, as Anwar previously asserted that Malaysia practices a neutral policy and supports finding a peaceful solution to disputes.

Malaysia, as a trade nation, should not risk becoming entangled in geopolitical power struggles, especially when it has significant economic ties with both China and Taiwan. Haim reiterated that Malaysia should neither be pro-China nor pro-Taiwan, but pro-Malaysia. He believed that Malaysia's interest is to maintain relations with Beijing while continuing to trade and build pragmatic economic relations with Taiwan, including in the sectors of electricity and electronics and semiconductors.