One China policy: Understanding Malaysia’s position on Beijing and Taipei

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks on Taiwan have brought renewed attention to Malaysia’s One China policy and its relations with Beijing and Taipei.

In an August 2026 interview with Al Jazeera, the Pakatan Harapan chairman said: “I see Taiwan as part of China, period”.

When asked about Beijing’s refusal to rule out military force for reunification, Anwar drew a comparison with Malaysia, saying that if a Malaysian province attempted to break away, he would use force to protect national unity.

The remarks were welcomed by Beijing and criticised by Taipei.

Anwar later reiterated that Malaysia prefers a peaceful resolution and that its position under the One China policy remains unchanged since 1974.

What is the ‘One China’ framework?

There are two interpretations of the framework.

One is Beijing’s “One China Principle”, which asserts that there is only one China, that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is its sole legal government, and that Taiwan is an “inalienable part” of Chinese territory. Beijing views cross-strait relations as an internal affair, according to news reports citing international relations analysts.

Malaysia’s “One China Policy”, meanwhile, was established through a 1974 Joint Communiqué that formally established diplomatic relations with Beijing, making Malaysia the first Asean country to do so. The communiqué was signed by then prime minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak, and his Chinese counterpart Zhou Enlai on May 31 that year.

The policy means that while Kuala Lumpur officially recognises the PRC as the sole legal government of China and acknowledges Beijing’s position on Taiwan, it does not formally endorse Beijing’s claims over the island.

Putrajaya’s One China policy also emphasises the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Beijing and Taipei’s response

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian commended Anwar, saying his remarks reflected international consensus and supported Beijing’s position on Taiwan.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry rejected the remarks, saying Taiwan is not a province of China and expressing concern that such rhetoric could legitimise the use of military coercion. Taiwanese officials also warned the comments could affect investor confidence.

Will Anwar’s comments affect ties with Taiwan?

Malaysia has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but both sides maintain robust unofficial economic, cultural and technological links.

The Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre, Taipei (MFTC), established in 1987, serves as Malaysia’s representative office in Taipei, while Taiwan is represented by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kuala Lumpur. In the absence of formal diplomatic relations, the two offices perform many functions typically associated with embassies.

Whether Taipei will follow its statement with further action remains to be seen, while reactions in Taiwanese and Chinese media have been mixed.

Analysts have suggested Anwar’s remarks could dampen Taiwanese investor appetite if Malaysia is perceived as leaning more heavily towards Beijing, particularly as technology companies value geopolitical predictability.

A columnist in China Times noted that Taipei’s responses to similar statements by Southeast Asian countries have generally been limited to official rebuttals, arguing Taiwan is more likely to continue pursuing its “New Southbound Policy” to diversify its economic footprint away from mainland China.

In 2025, total trade between Malaysia and Taiwan reached US$54.49 billion, up from US$38.63 billion in 2024, according to a note on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.

Taiwan was Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner, accounting for 7.6 per cent of Malaysia’s total trade.