Dasar Luar Malaysia-China Era Najib

8/18/2019 Dasar Luar Malaysia-China Era Najib

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Discuss the Relationship between Malaysia and China in the Era of

Datuk Seri Najib

Introduction

Malaysia- a multicultural country that attained their independence in 1957- is a

small country when compared to China; which is a ‘super’ country with its

vigorous economic growth in such a sudden and short term. Malaysia shared

relations with China or a!out "5 years. #rom 197$ until now% the relations o

Malaysia and China is always in the position o multilateral relations &'!dul (a)a*

+aginda% , 1 /. 0his relation !rings !ene t toward !oth China and Malaysia.

Malaysia-China relationship is prosperous in many elds- such aseducation% !usiness% tourism% economic% and security. Malaysia and China have

done much to sustain each other and orm protection to sta!ili)e the relationship

!etween these two countries. 0hese two countries sta!ili)e the relationship

!etween them through launching agreements.

China% today% is seen as an ascending power. 0his is proven not only

through the country’s rapid economic development% !ut also through its

enhanced regional and glo!al roles% coupled with its military potential. Malaysiatoo* the regional lead; this caused policy de!ates !etween Malaysia and most o

'23'4 mem!ers over the issue o China encroachment and also the uestion o

regional security. 'lthough there is a rich and deep relationship !etween

Malaysia and China% this paper will only ocus on 4a6i!’s era- which is Malaysia’s

5 th prime minister. 0his paper will also shed some light on elements that had

in uenced oreign policy decisions- such as internal and e8ternal actors.

uring the th :rime Minister atu* 2eri 4a6i! era% he had done a lot tore ect the pro8imity !etween Malaysia and China. atu* 2eri 4a6i! had also done

many re orms that show sta!ility and peace !etween the two nations. +y doing

all these activities% our prime minister !rings a lot o !ene t towards our country-

especially economically% politically and also socially. +esides that% in some

incident or cases% this can re ect the strong relationship !etween Malaysia and

China.

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2. Najib!s "olicy towards China

2.# Malaysia$China "olitical Cooperation

Malaysia- the rst '23'4 mem!er country to esta!lished diplomatic relations

with China since 197$- is maintaining a positive relation in terms o politics%

economy and society or as long as $, years .

' ter ato’ 2eri 4a6i! too* over as the prime minister in , 9% diplomatic

ties and economic involvement !etween China-Malaysia have deepened even

more; ato’ 2eri 4a6i! pointed out that much has !een achieved in the Malaysia-

China relationship since his rst visit as :rime Minister to China in , 9 and the

relationship has !een !olstered !y re uent e8changes o visit !y top leaders and

senior o cials o the two countries. 0his is despite other nations assume that the

relationship might rupture !y 2outh China 2ea territorial disputes and missing

accident o M


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economy and that the !iggest trade partner o Malaysia is China. 0his means

that Malaysia needs to continue political diplomatic relations with China !ecause

the a!ility to ac uire national wealth.

Malaysia is geopolitically strategic that gives China the pivot it needs toe8pand their political economic in uence into 2outh 3ast 'sia. Malaysia is in

main line o de ences to stop intrusion o Chinese power or the >nited 2tates.

0his means that Malaysia is an important nation or China and >nited 2tates to

solve con ict li*e territorial disputes. 0hus% ato’ 2eri 4a6i! avoids the

implementation o a unilateral oreign policy; he tries to maintain or improve

intimate simultaneous relations with >nited 2tates and China. An particular% :rime

Minister ato’ 2eri 4a6i! continues to communicate with China !y using

Anternational Brgani)ation li*e '23'4 or meetings and summits li*e Malaysia-

China 2ummit or economic growth discussions and Malaysian government

carries out active oreign policies such as accepting investment rom Chinese

companies.

2.2 Malaysia$China Econo%ic Cooperation

, 1 mar*s the $, nd 'nniversary o Malaysia-China iplomatic relations.

3conomic cooperation !etween !oth countries e8hi!ited strong growth over o last our decade. An a nutshell% while 0un '!dul (a)a* was responsi!le or the

normali)ation o the relation !etween !oth countries. 3conomic relations evolved

immensely under Malaysia’s ourth :rime Minister- Mahathir Mohammad- who

had e8panded trade and tourism.

+ilateral ties !etween Malaysia-China were urther consolidated when

Malaysia’s si8th :rime Minister% ato’ 2eri 4a6i! signed 1 Mo>s &Memorandum

o >nderstandings/ agreement with China in ?une , 9. itnessed !y ato’ 2eri

4a6i! and Chinese :rime Minister en ?ia!ao% the agreement was considered as

the rst agreement !etween Malaysia-China- called the DMalaysia-China ?oint

'ction :lan on 2trategies CooperationE and the second is D'!olition o =isa

'greementE. 0he nal Mo> was the DMalaysia-China :ostal 'greementE including

the D'voidance o ou!le 0a8ation 'greementE% DMaritime 0ransport 'greementE%

D+ilateral 0rade 'greementE% DAnvestment Fuarantee 'greementE and DCo-

operations in 2cience and 0echnologyE which have !een implemented since

, ,. &Gam :eng 3r% Hin Ia ing J Iang Mu% , 1"K ,$,-,$"/ 0he main motive is toenhance cooperation in production% !ilateral trade% economic% investment and

"


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actively encourage and support !ilateral investments. At also promotes the

involvement within the private sectors and support cooperation !etween small-

medium enterprises and service institutions.

+esides that% '23'4-China ‘e8changes and linages o good opportunity ordevelopment’ has mar*ed the si8th year anniversary o the China-'23'4 #ree

0rade 'greement '/- which has a huge positive impact to Malaysia. 0he

purpose is to trans orm '23'4 into a competitive region with e uita!le economic

development. &Lul a*ar% , 15K ,,/ China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner; all

the while Malaysia is China’s !iggest trading partner in '23'4% third in 'sia and

si8th in the world. 0his means that the esta!lishment o #0' or the region o the

)ero tari status was accorded to the activities import and e8port. &Ioung Chan

Nim% , 1 K $ -$"/. 0rans-:aci c :artnership 'greement &0::'/ !etween !oth

countries is a good opportunity to increase economic capa!ility&ies/. &=ivienne

+ath J Gu*e 4ottage% , 1"K " / Malaysia 38ternal 0rade evelopment

Corporation &Matrade/ targets the total trade !etween Malaysia and China to

increase to >2O11 +illion &>2O1P rm$.17/- which is >2O7 +illion more than last

year. Matrade Chie 38ecutive B cer atu* )ul*i i Mahmud stated that the

increase would !e driven !y a commitment made !y !oth nations to increase

two way trade to >2O1 !illion !y , 17.

2.& Malaysia$China Social Cooperation

ato’ 2eri 4a6i! said China today is vastly di erent rom the one that his

ather saw in 197$. (e erring to !ilateral relations !etween China and

Malaysia% he said they had much in common in that they shared similar

aspirations and o!6ectives to ensure lasting peace and sta!ility in the region.

0he :rime Minister said people-to-people contacts had also grown andMalaysia today is a ma6or tourist destination or Chinese. Gast year% more than

9$9%Q Chinese visitors came to Malaysia% the th largest num!er a ter

2ingapore% Andonesia% 0hailand and +runei and the largest rom outside '23'4.

ato’ 2eri 4a6i! also opined that the uture prosperity o any nation depended on

the per ormance o its people.

ato’ 2eri 4a6i! mentioned the esta!lishment o the twin industrial par*s

in Hin)hou% China% and Nuantan% Malaysia.


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a testimony to the sincere riendship o the two countries as well as a shining

model o sustaina!le cooperation in sharing o economic development and

prosperity.

ato’ 2eri 4a6i! said the growing trade and investment ties would alsogenerate more opportunities in tourism% educational and cultural cooperation

!etween Malaysia and China% thus serve to !ring our already close and strong

riendship to a great height.


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>niversity. 0he esta!lishment o these institutions intends to promote the

development and study o Chinese and Malay languages in !oth countries to

allow the e8istence o a mutual understanding o culture in !oth countries & en

?ia!ao% , 11/. An addition% the student e8change program !etween the two

countries has continued and has !een urther enhanced.

Cooperation in education !etween the two countries is urther esta!lished

when Riamen >niversity- a university in China- has chosen Malaysia as the site to

set up !ranches or its international universities. ato’ 2eri 4a6i! said that this is

a historic moment !ecause this is the rst time China had esta!lish an overseas

university- and the act that Malaysia was chosen highlights the strong !ilateral

ties !etween the countries &>tusan Bnline% , 1"/. 0hese !ranches are covering

.7, hectares. At was esta!lished in 2ala* 0inggi% and has started its rst !atch

o this year &, 1 /. At o ers Q" undergraduate programs% ,7 graduate

programs% and 1Q7 :h. programs in total. 0he university now has a total

enrolment o over $ % ull-time students on campus% including 19%57

undergraduates% 17%$9 master’s degree students% and ,%9, doctoral students.

0here are over ,%Q international students &Rinmeng >niversity Malaysia% , 15/.

0hrough the esta!lishment o the campus has !ecome a sym!ol o the close

cooperation in the eld o education !etween Malaysia and China.

2.( Malaysia$China Security and Defense Cooperation

2ecurity and de ence is very important or Malaysia !ecause MalaysiaSs

geographical position causes variety o threats. (egion is considered important

!y Malaysia covering 2outheast 'sia% including the 'ndaman and 2outh China

2ea also led Malaysia to see any growth in the region will also a ect the security

and development. 'ny disruption to the regionSs security% whether in the orm o

internal or e8ternal con ict% will impact national security &Ministry o e ense%, 1 /.

0he Malaysia-China relationship is not only su!6ected to economic and

social relations% !ut it also involves security and de ence. Currently under 4a6i!

era% many agreements and cooperation involving de ence have !een e8ecuted-

which catalyses the development o Malaysia-China military alliance &4a6i!

(a)a*% , 15/. 0his is re ected through the many meetings !etween the two

countries. iscussions and e8change o views on issues such as strategicimportance or the countries% as well as current issues and trends arising in the


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glo!al security landscape% are held. 0hese include security and de ence

elements% which has long !een the least developed aspect o the !ilateral ties.

An Bcto!er , 1$% Malaysian e ense Minister


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caused tension with China as China protested heavily against the map &, 15/.

0hroughout the years% Malaysia made a rm stance on their claims over the

2pratly islands- or e8ample in 1977% Malaysia stationed Malay troops on some o

the territories.

Currently% under 4a6i!’s rule% Malaysia is seen as more vocal against

China. 0his is highly due to China !uilding arti cial islands and light-houses in

, 15. Malaysia’s 'rmed #orces chie Lul*e i Mohd Lin condemned the act !y

calling it ‘unwarranted provocation’ &Mchugh% , 15/. An 15 th March , 1 %

Malaysia sent e ence Minister


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resource activities- as well as the territorial integrity o the nation% given that the

waterway divides peninsular Malaysia rom 3ast Malaysia &:rasanth

:arameswaran% , 15/. 0he increase in the appearance o Chinese assets was not

new within '23'4 region% as it had !een occurring around the 2pratly Aslands

since , Q.

An response with the incident% Malaysia too* the :laying-it-sa e approach in

order to secure its interests in 2outh China 2ea and without su!verting its

relationship with China. 0here ore% over the past ew years% Malaysia has !ecome

alarmed and read6usted its policies; and Malaysia had lodged a diplomatic

protest directly to +ei6ing. 3ven though% Malaysia handled matters regarding

2outh China 2ea- in the past privately- !ut Malaysia used to !e rmer and more

pu!lic when responding with this *ind o incidents. ' press held !y 2hahidan

Nassim% Minister o 4ational 2ecurity% announced that Malaysia sent its navy and

coast guard to monitor the area or ensuring the sovereignty o nation.

Malaysia :rime Minister 4a6i! too* a urther diplomatic action !y raising

the issues directly to Chinese :resident Ri ?inping. >sing the ‘playing it sa e’

approach% Malaysia did not pu!licly condemn +ei6ing’s action to a level that

would lead to an escalatory Chinese response% which shows that 4a6i!’s

administration is unwilling to let this issue damage the Malaysian relationshipwith its largest trading partner% China &:rasanth :arameswaran% , 15/.


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!etween Malaysia and China% there will !e a D!ac*-slideE or a much harder time

in which% !oth sides will have to overcome and this includes the issue o M


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hen all the actors are e8amined% it can concluded that% rom re6ection to

acceptance% rom controversy to cooperation% the two powers- Malaysia and

China had their share o tur!ulence in their long inter-connected history.

'lthough% politically% economically and socially issues had plagued relations

!etween the two countries% !ut the relations is ever !looming.

'lthough leaders% time and policies changed !ut the Malaysia-China

relationship remains the same- rich and ever growing. 0his !ilateral relationship

had aced and will ace a lot o trials% !ut the ties will not !e easily !ro*en.

Malaysia% a politically dwar country when compared to China% has held a

signi cant value to China a trade partner% which is less li*ely when compared to

some o the '23'4 countries.

0he reason or the intense economic growth !etween China and Malaysia-

ever since diplomatic esta!lishment- lies in mutual political trust and social

understanding. 3conomic cooperation is the !lood that’s ows through the

!ilateral !rotherhood !etween Malaysia and China. China-Malaysia relations will

enter a new phase o development characteri)ed !y an unprecedented level o

economic interdependence. Malaysia-China relations will continue to develop and

this hope o development will !ring a!out peace and integrity !etween the two

nations.

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RE1ERENCE

'!dul (a)a* +aginda. , 1 . China-Malaysia Relations and Foreign Policy . 4ew

Ior*K (outledge. >2'.

')lan Lamhari. ?un , % , 15. ‘China Intrusion Larger than Putrajaya lets on”.

Malaysia*ini. (etrieved on 'pril "% , 1 % rom

httpsKTTwww.malaysia*ini.comTnewsT" ,5 7

)ure*% . ?.% J 2cho eld% C. niversiti Ne!angsaan MalaysiaK Anstitut Aslam


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Minister o e ence Malaysia. , 1 . 0ational /e,ence Policy . (etrieved on $ 'pril

, 1 rom httpKTTwww.mod.gov.myT

“Malaysia: China to ;or together to $ght ilitancy in all ,or s! 6isha uddin.”

0he 2traits 0imes. Bcto!er Q% , 1$.

Musa (ahman. , 1 . Malaysia dan China! 6u1ungan /i lo ati . Anstitut Aslam.

>niversiti Ne!angsaan Malaysia.

4icholas Cheng. “Malaysia and China hold $rst-e7er joint ilitary e


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httpKTTww1.utusan.com.myTutusanT alamU4egeriT, 1" 1,,TdnU 1T>niversiti-

Riamen-pilih-Malaysia

=ivienne +ath J Gu*e 4ottage. , 1". Foreign In7est ent and /is ute Resolution

La; and Practice in *sia . >nited 2tatesK (outledge.

en ?ia!ao. , 11 . Re ar s 1y 6is 8

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Dasar Luar Malaysia-China Era Najib