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Canberra –
Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim warned of efforts by certain countries to hinder China’s military and economic rise in the Asia-Pacific region.
Anwar conveyed this warning when speaking at the Australian National University in Canberra on Thursday (7/3) local time, after attending a meeting of ASEAN and Australian leaders in Melbourne which was dominated by discussions about China’s aggressive attitude in the region.
As reported AFPThursday (7/3/2024), Anwar said at the forum that when China and the United States (US) fight for regional influence, Southeast Asian countries must be able to defend the “sanctity” of international law and urge cooperation.
According to him, Beijing will view any attempt to curb its military and economic expansion as a rejection of their “rightful place in history.”
“The obstacles placed against China’s economic and technological progress will only exacerbate these grievances,” Anwar said in his speech.
Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea as its territory, ignoring international legal precedent and competing claims from several Southeast Asian countries.
This week, Chinese ships around the Spratly Islands were accused of ramming Filipino ships. The US condemned Beijing’s actions, which it responded with accusations that Washington was using Manila as a “pawn” in the region.
In his speech, Anwar emphasized that he was not suggesting that countries “turn a blind eye” to violations of international law.
“Foreboding has permeated discourse about our region’s future,” he said, pointing to the contradiction with turn-of-the-century optimism about free trade helping to build alliances and moderate rivalries.
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(nvc/idh)
