Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has drawn renewed focus to Kuala Lumpur’s long-standing One China policy by stating that he regards Taiwan as part of China. His comments have garnered approval from Beijing but faced criticism from Taipei. Despite the controversy, Anwar emphasized that Malaysia remains committed to a peaceful resolution of the tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Since 1974, when Malaysia established diplomatic ties with Beijing, the One China policy has been a cornerstone of its foreign relations. Under this policy, Malaysia recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and acknowledges Beijing’s stance on Taiwan. At the same time, Malaysia underscores the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Beijing has lauded Anwar’s remarks as consistent with its own views on Taiwan, while Taipei has rejected them, asserting Taiwan’s independence from China. Taiwan also cautioned that support for Beijing’s position could heighten concerns regarding military pressure in the region.
Although Malaysia does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the two maintain substantial economic, cultural, and technological interactions through their respective representative offices. Anwar’s recent statements may strain Malaysia’s ties with Taiwan, particularly among Taiwanese businesses and investors wary of geopolitical risks. Nonetheless, Malaysia is expected to continue balancing its robust relationship with China alongside its economic engagements with Taiwan.
Trade between Malaysia and Taiwan reached a substantial US$54.49 billion in 2025, underscoring Taiwan’s role as one of Malaysia’s major trading partners. Despite the diplomatic divergence, the significant economic interests shared by both parties are likely to foster continued cooperation.