Key facts
- Malaysia insists its non-alignment policy extends to cyberspace.
- Analysts believe Malaysia's reliance on US and Chinese technology challenges its neutral stance.
- Malaysia views the US-China rivalry as the latest in a recurring reality of international politics.
- The US-China competition has manifested intensely for Malaysia over the South China Sea.
- Malaysia aims to employ 'equidistant diplomacy' to hedge against risks and cultivate long-term options.
Malaysia is navigating the intensifying US-China rivalry by emphasizing its long-standing policy of non-alignment and neutrality, even in cyberspace. Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated on Monday that Malaysia would "always remain neutral" in cyberspace, arguing that cyber threats can originate from non-state actors and should not be solely attributed to geopolitical rivalries.
Analysts, however, suggest that Malaysia's deep reliance on technology from both the United States and China could make sustaining such a neutral stance difficult. The country has historically engaged in hedging strategies, viewing major power competition as a recurring aspect of international politics, from its colonial past to the Cold War and now the US-China strategic rivalry.
Cheng-Chwee Kuik, an APLN member, argues that while hedging carries risks, it remains the most viable option for Malaysia to protect its interests. The competition between the US and China has significantly impacted Malaysia, particularly concerning territorial disputes in the South China Sea, which have become increasingly viewed through the lens of major power rivalry. Developments like China's maritime assertiveness and the US's "Asia Pivot," along with initiatives like the Quad and AUKUS security pact, have heightened these tensions.