Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent remarks reaffirming that Taiwan is part of China have drawn a strong reaction from Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led authorities.
During an Al Jazeera interview released on August 16, Anwar said, “I see Taiwan as part of China, period,” while reiterating Malaysia’s position on the one-China principle.
Asked whether Malaysia would condemn China if it used force to prevent Taiwan from breaking away, Anwar compared the situation to Malaysia and said his responsibility would be to protect the country’s territorial integrity if any part sought to secede.
“If any part of Malaysia sought to break away, it would be my responsibility to preserve the territorial integrity of the country,” he said. When asked whether force could be used in such a situation, Anwar replied in the affirmative, saying otherwise the country could risk becoming fragmented.
Taiwan’s regional foreign affairs authorities later criticised the remarks as “false”, claiming that Anwar was effectively justifying the possible use of force by China in resolving the Taiwan issue.
They also warned that Malaysia’s position could affect the confidence of Taiwanese businesses operating or investing in the country.
However, Zheng Jian, a professor at Xiamen University’s Graduate Institute for Taiwan Studies, argued that Anwar’s comments reflected what he described as the established international consensus surrounding the one-China principle.
Zheng said Taiwan was an internal matter for China and argued that sovereign states have the right to safeguard their territorial integrity. He also said supporting separatist movements could create precedents that may affect other countries facing similar issues.
On the potential economic impact of Taiwan’s concerns, Zheng dismissed suggestions that Taiwan could significantly pressure Malaysia through trade or investment, arguing that Malaysia has alternative economic partners and channels.
He said the strong reaction from Taiwan’s authorities reflected their reliance on international political support and that statements from foreign leaders that challenge their preferred narrative could create domestic political difficulties.
Zheng also pointed to recent developments involving China and Indonesia, saying their joint military exercises could have wider strategic implications for regional security and the broader balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.
He argued that continued efforts by Taiwan’s independence-leaning forces to promote international support could result in more statements and developments that challenge their position.
