Abstract
This chapter probes the impact of China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI) on Malaysia’s stance toward China and China’s favored policies. It notes that while Malaysia has indeed inclined itself toward China, Kuala Lumpur’s shift occurred before the MSRI and the magnitude of Malaysia’s shift is less than one would expect not just in light of the MSRI, but also given Malaysia’s other substantial economic links with China. Factors driving the disconnect between the MSRI’s/China’s economic lures and Malaysian political behaviors include the economic limits of the MSRI and Malaysia’s broader economic relationship with China and Malaysia’s interest in protecting its sovereignty and national independence. Beyond this, the chapter highlights there are many other political variables that have pushed Malaysia in the direction of China.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ahmad, Zakaria. “Not Between Scylla and Charybdis: Malaysia’s Relations with China and the United States.” In China, the United States, and the Future of Southeast Asia, edited by David D.H. Denoon, 194–214. New York: New York University Press, 2017.
Allard, Tom, and Joseph Sipalan. “Malaysia to Buy Navy Vessels from China in Blow to US.” Reuters, October 28, 2016. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-china-defence/malaysia-to-buy-navy-vessels-from-china-in-blow-to-u-s-idUSKCN12S0WA.
Azman, Sulhi. “Nazir Urges Government to Scrutinize Benefits of Chinese-led Deals.” The Edge Financial Daily, July 20, 2017.
Bagina, Abdul Razak. China-Malaysia Relations and Foreign Policy. London: Routledge, 2016.
Balakrishnan, K.S. “The Globalization Impact on Malaysia-China Political Relations.” In China and Malaysia in a Globalizing World: Bilateral Relations, Regional Imperatives, and Domestic Challenges, edited by Emile Kok-Kheng Yeoh and Kok Chung Hou, 57–70. Kuala Lumpur: Institute of China Studies, University of Malaysia, 2006.
Barrock, Jose. “Gemas-JB Double-Tracking Details Made Public.” The Edge Markets, November 17, 2015. http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/gemas-jb-double-tracking-details-made-public.
“Beijing-KL Relationship at Its Best Ever, Says Xi Jinping.” The Straits Times, May 14, 2017. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/beijing-kl-relationship-at-its-best-ever-says-xi.
“Belt and Road Initiative: A Game Changer for the Regional Economy: Malaysia PM.” China Daily, August 9, 2017. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2017-08/09/content_30384904.htm.
Bernama. “Malaysia Welcomes FDI from China: Azmin Ali.” New Straits Times, October 30, 2018. https://www.nst.com.my/business/2018/10/426603/malaysia-welcomes-fdi-china-azmin-ali.
Bland, Ben. “Malaysian Backlash Tests China’s Belt and Road Ambitions.” Financial Times, June 24, 2018.
Chan, Xin Ying. “Healthy China-Malaysia Ties Could Hurt Ethnic Chinese.” Today, December 16, 2018. https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/healthy-china-malaysia-ties-could-hurt-ethnic-chinese.
Chen, Shaofeng. “Regional Responses to China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative in Southeast Asia.” Journal of Contemporary China 27, no. 111 (2018): 344–361.
Cheng, Nicholas. “Malaysia and China Hold First-Ever Joint Military Exercise.” The Star Online, December 23, 2014. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2014/12/23/malaysia-and-china-hold-firstever-joint-military-exercise.
Chew, Amy. “China, Malaysia Tout New ‘Port Alliance’ to Reduce Customs Bottlenecks and Boost Trade.” South China Morning Post, April 9, 2016. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/1934839/china-malaysia-tout-new-port-alliance-reduce-customs.
Chew, Amy. “China’s Investment in Embattled 1MDB Throw Malaysian Prime Minister a Lifeline-But Carry a Hidden Price Tag.” South China Morning Post, January 12, 2016. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1900056/chinas-investment-embattled-1mdb-throw-malaysian-prime.
Chin, Joseph. “1MDBSells Edra Power Assets to China Firm for Nearly RM10b Cash.” The Star Online, November 23, 2015. https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2015/11/23/1mdb-sells-edra-power-assets-to-china-firm-for-nearly-rm10b-cash.
“China Belt and Road Builder Finds Itself Embroiled in a Scandal in Malaysian Coastal Railway Link.” South China Morning Post, June 12, 2018. https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/2150411/chinas-belt-and-road-builder-finds-itself-embroiled-scandal.
“China Railway Eyes Regional Market with $2b Investment in Malaysia.” China Daily, March 22, 2016. http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2016-03/22/content_24011574.htm.
“China, Malaysia Optimistic on Fresh Opportunities Under Belt and Road Initiatives.” Xinhua, March 20, 2016. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-03/20/c_135205527.htm.
“China, Malaysia Sign Infrastructure, Defense Deals.” Xinhuanet, November 2, 2016. http://www.xinhuanet.com//english/2016-11/02/c_135798008.htm.
“China’s Top Train Maker Brings Expertise, Boosts Industrial Development in Malaysia.” China Daily, August 17, 2018. http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2016-08/17/content_26504456.htm.
“Chinese Projects to Gain Further Momentum in Malaysia.” China Daily, January 1, 2018. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201801/07/WS5a518885a31008cf16da5887.html.
Dhillon, Karminder Singh. “Foreign Policy Priorities.” In Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Malaysia, edited by Meredith L. Weiss, 379–390. Abingdon: Routledge, 2015.
“Dr. Mahathir Aims to Scrap Chinese Deals.” New Straits Times, August 13, 2018. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/08/400855/dr-mahathir-aims-scrap-chinese-deals.
Forbes, Vivian Louis. “ASEAN, China and Malaysia: Cautious Diplomacy, Trade, and a Complex Sea.” International Journal of China Studies 6, no. 2 (2015): 129–148.
Freitas, Geoff de. “BRI Backing Boosts Malaysia’s Rail Infrastructure Development.” HKTDC Research, January 5, 2018. http://china-trade-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/International-Market-News/BRI-Backing-Boosts-Malaysia-s-Rail-Infrastructure-Redevelopment/imn/en/1/1X3AYEO6/1X0ACMRF.htm.
Hammim, Rizalman. “Construction of Gemas-JB Electrified Double Tracking Project to Begin by Year-End.” New Straits Times, March 11, 2016. https://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/03/132149/construction-gemas-jb-electrified-double-tracking-project-begin-year-end.
Heydarian, Richard Javad. “Malaysia’s Bold Play Against China.” The Washington Post, November 14, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/theworldpost/wp/2018/11/14/Malaysia.
Jain, Rajendra Kumar. [China and Southeast Asia Since 1949, Vol. 2]. China and Malaysia 1949–1983. New Delhi: Radiant Publishers, 1984.
Jayaseelan, Risen, and Leong Hung Yee. “1MDB Gets Three Bids for Edra Assets.” The Star Online, October 17, 2015. https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2015/10/17/1mdb-gets-three-bids-for-edra-assets.
Jiang, Steven. “Mahathir Tones Down Anti-China Rhetoric During Visit to Beijing.” CNN, August 20, 2018. https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/20/asia/china-malaysia-mahathir-visit-intl/index.html.
Kong, Tuan Yuen. “Belt and Road Initiative: A New Impetus to Strengthen China-Malaysia Relations.” East Asian Policy 9, no. 2 (2017): 5–14.
Ku, Samuel C.Y. “China’s Changing Political Economy with Malaysia: A Regional Perspective.” In China and Malaysia in a Globalizing World: Bilateral Relations, Regional Imperatives, and Domestic Challenges, edited by Emile Kok-Kheng Yeoh and Kok Chung Hou, 29–44. Kuala Lumpur: Institute of China Studies, University of Malaysia, 2006.
Kuik, Cheng‐Chwee. “The Essence of Hedging: Malaysia and Singapore’s Response to a Rising China.” Contemporary Southeast Asia 30, no. 2 (2008): 159–185.
Kuik, Cheng‐Chwee. “Malaysia Between the United States and China: What Do Weaker States Hedge Against?” Asian Politics & Policy 8, no. 1 (2016): 155–177.
Kuik, Cheng‐Chwee. “Malaysia’s China Policy in the Post-Mahathir Era: A Neoclassical Realist Explanation.” RSIS Working Paper, no. 244, July 30, 2012.
Kuik, Cheng‐Chwee. “Malaysia-China Relations: Three Enduring Themes.” In Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Malaysia, edited by Meredith L. Weiss, 417–427. Abingdon: Routledge, 2015.
Kumar, P. Prem, and Dashveenjit Kaur. “Malaysia Strong Beneficiary of BRI.” The Malaysian Reserve, April 3, 2018. https://themalaysianreserve.com/2018/04/03/malaysia-strong-beneficiary-of-bri.
Latiff, Rozanna, and Norihiko Shirouzu. “China’s Geely Buys 49.9 Percent of Malaysian Automaker Proton.” Reuters, May 23, 2017. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-proton-m-a-geely/chinas-geely-buys-49-9-percent-of-malaysian-automaker-proton-idUSKBN18K0HE.
Lean, Hooi Hooi, and Russell Smyth. “The Malaysia–China Economic Relationship at 40: Broadening Ties and Meeting the Challenges for Future Success.” In Chinese Global Production Networks in ASEAN, edited by Young-Chan Kim, 39–52. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2016.
Lee, Kam Hing. “Malaysia-China Economic Relations: 2000–2010.” In China and East Asia: After the Wall Street Crisis, edited by Lam Peng Er, Qin Yaqing, and Mu Yang, 241–276. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing, 2013.
Leong, Stephen. “Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China in the 1980: Political Vigilance and Economic Pragmatism.” Asian Survey 27, no. 10 (1987): 1109–1126.
Leong, Trinna. “Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Line Will Proceed Only If $27.54b Cost Is Cut Drastically: Minister.” The Straits Times, July 3, 2018. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysias-ecrl-will-only-proceed-if-s274b-cost-is-cut-drastically-minister.
Li, Yi. “An Analysis of Recent Sino-Malaysian Trade Relations.” In China and Malaysia in a Globalizing World: Bilateral Relations, Regional Imperatives, and Domestic Challenges, edited by Emile Kok-Kheng Yeoh and Kok Chung Hou, 127–136. Kuala Lumpur: Institute of China Studies, University of Malaysia, 2006.
Li, Yiping. “Sino-Malaysian Diplomacy in the Post-Cold War Period: A Regional Analysis.” In China and Malaysia in a Globalizing World: Bilateral Relations, Regional Imperatives, and Domestic Challenges, edited by Emile Kok-Kheng Yeoh and Kok Chung Hou, 45–56. Kuala Lumpur: Institute of China Studies, University of Malaysia.
Liang, Haiming. “China Should Advance Malaysian Ties for Regional, Global Projects.” Global Times, December 26, 2016. http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1025658.shtml.
Lim, Guanie. “Resolving the Malacca Dilemma: Malaysia’s Role in the Belt and Road Initiative.” In Securing the Belt and Road Initiative, edited by Alessandro Arduino and Xue Gong, 81–99. Singapore: Springer, 2018.
Liow, Joseph Chin Yong. “Malaysia-China Relations in the 1990s: The Maturing of a Partnership.” Asian Survey 40, no. 4 (2000): 672–691.
Lockman, Shahriman. “The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and China-Malaysia Relations.” Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, May 2015.
Loh, Francis. “BRI and Spike in Chinese Investments in Malaysia: What Are the Implications for Malaysia’s Politics and Sovereignty?” Aliran, September 7, 2017. https://aliran.com/aliran-csi/aliran-csi-2017/bri-spike-chinese-investments-malaysia-implications-malaysias-politics-sovereignty.
Mahroti, Pooja Thakur, and En Han Choong. “$100 Billion Chinese-Made City Near Singapore ‘Scares the Hell Out of Everybody’.” Bloomberg, November 21, 2016. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-11-21/-100-billion-chinese-made-city-near-singapore-scares-the-hell-out-of-everybody.
“Malaysia Says No Intention to Abandon China’s BRI.” The Star Online, September 12, 2018. https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2018/09/12/malaysia-says-no-intention-to-abandon-china-bri.
“Malaysia to Renegotiate ECRL Terms-Dr M.” New Straits Times, May 27, 2018. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/05/373682/malaysia-renegotiate-ecrl-terms-dr-m.
“Malaysia’s Najib Tilts to China.” Asian Sentinel, November 4, 2016. https://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/malaysia-najib-tilts-to-china.
“Malaysia-China Industrial Park to Give New Impetus for Bilateral Ties.” China Daily, February 27, 2018. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201802/27/WS5a94c916a3106e7dcc13e53a.html.
“Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park on Track to Achieve Investment Target: Chairman.” China Daily, September 6, 2017. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2017-09/06/content_31626752.htm.
“Najib Reiterates Benefits of China’s One Belt One Road Initiative.” The Star Online, May 16, 2017. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/05/16/najib-reiterates-benefits-of-china-one-belt-one-road.
Ngeow, Chow Bing. “Comprehensive Strategic Partner But Prosaic Military Ties: The Development of Malaysia-China Defence Relations 1991–2015.” Contemporary Southeast Asia 37, no. 2 (2015): 269–304.
Noi, Goh Sui. “East Coast Rail Link and Pipeline Projects with China to Be Deferred: Malaysian PM Mahathir.” The Straits Times, August 21, 2018. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/east-coast-rail-link-and-pipeline-projects-with-china-cancelled-says-malaysian-pm.
Noor, Elina, and T.N. Qistina. “Great Power Rivalries, Domestic Politics, and Malaysian Foreign Policy.” Asian Security 13, no. 3 (2017): 200–219.
Ong, Han Sean, “Robust Outlook for Kuantan Port.” The Star Online, October 15, 2018. https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/10/15/robust-outlook-for-kuantan-port-ecrls-suspension-has-no-effect-on-its-development-says-minister.
Ong, Han Sean, and Joash Ee De Silva. “East Coast Rail Link on the Starting Track.” The Star Online, August 9, 2017. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/08/09/east-coast-rail-link-on-the-starting-track-pm-and-chinese-envoy-to-attend-ecrl-groundbreaking-ceremo.
Ong, Kian Ming. “Peering Over Kuantan’s ‘Great Wall of China’.” Malaysiakini, September 6, 2018. https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/441946.
Othman, Ahmad Fairuz. “Gemas-JB Rail Line Delay Explained.” New Straits Times, September 16, 2017. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/09/280372/exclusive-gemas-jb-rail-line-delay-explained.
Palma, Stefania. “Malaysia Cancels China-Backed Pipeline Projects.” Financial Times, September 9, 2018.
Palma, Stefania. “Malaysia Suspends $22bn China-Backed Projects.” Financial Times, July 5, 2018.
Permal, Sumathy. “Maritime Cooperation with United States and China: Examination on the Contemporary Issues and Challenges for Malaysia.” The Journal of Defence and Security 5, no. 1 (2014): 76–80.
People’s Republic of China (PRC), Ministry of National Defense. “First China-Malaysia Joint Military Exercise Held in Malacca Strait.” September 17, 2017. http://eng.mod.gov.cn/DefenseNews/2015-09/17/content_4620894.htm.
“PM: Gemas-JB Rail Project to be Growth Catalyst for Johor.” Malysiakini, April 3, 2018. https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/418197.
“Putrajaya Contracts Gemas-JB Double Track to Chinese Firm.” Malaysia Today, December 26, 2011. https://www.malaysia-today.net/2011/12/26/putrajaya-contracts-gemas-jb-double-track-to-chinese-firm.
Razak, Najib. “Why Malaysia Supports China’s Belt and Road.” South China Morning Post, May 12, 2017. https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2094094/why-malaysia-supports-chinas-belt-and-road.
Saieed, Zunaira. “Gemas-JB Double-Track Rail Project Details Finalized After Delay.” The Star Online, April 24, 2018. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/04/24/gemas-jb-double-track-rail-project-details-finalised-after-delay.
Saravanamuttu, Johan, and David Han. “Malaysia-China Relations: A New Turn.” RSIS Commentary, no. 274 (November 4, 2016).
Schneider, Keith. “A Civic Outcry in Malaysia Forces a Chinese Builder to Live Up to Its Eco-Friendly Tag.” Mongabay, September 5, 2018. https://news.mongabay.com/2018/09/a-civic-outcry-in-malaysia-forces-a-chinese-builder-to-live-up-to-its-eco-friendly-tag.
Schneider, Keith. “A Malaysian Port City Grapples with the Fallout from Chinese Funding.” Mongabay, August 24, 2018. https://news.mongabay.com/2018/08/a-malaysian-port-city-grapples-with-the-fallout-from-chinese-funding.
Sipalan, Joseph. “Malaysia’s Najib Risks Backlash at Home After Deals with China.” Reuters, November 6, 2016. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-china-idUSKBN1320EY.
Sukumaran, Tashny, and Meaghan Tobin. “Mahathir Says Stalled Chinese Rail Link Can Go Ahead on ‘Smaller Scale’ If Beijing Agrees.” South China Morning Post, January 2, 2019. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/geopolitics/article/2180440/mahathir-says-stalled-chinese-rail-link-can-go-ahead-smaller.
Tan, Ben. “Loke: Gemas-JB Double Track Project to Complete West Coast Electrified Track System by 2022.” Malaymail, July 30, 2018. https://www.malaymail.com/s/1657475/loke-gemas-jb-double-track-project-to-complete-west-coast-electrified-track.
Tan, C.K. “China Group Secures $364m Train Order in Malaysia.” Nikkei Asian Review, August 3, 2017. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/China-group-secures-364m-train-order-in-Malaysia.
Tiezzi, Shannon. “Can China Rebuild Its ‘Special Relationship’ with Malaysia?” The Diplomat, November 18, 2015. https://thediplomat.com/2015/11/can-china-rebuild-its-special-relationship-with-malaysia.
Tsang, Alice. “Prospects of the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park and Kuantan Port.” HKTDC Research, May 16, 2017. http://economists-pick-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/Research-Articles/Prospects-for-the-Malaysia-China-Kuantan-Industrial-Park-and-Kuantan-Port/rp/en/1/1X000000/1X0AA0CO.htm.
Wei, Ren, and Bhavan Jaipragas. “Malaysia Housing Minister Walks Back Mahathir’s Talk of Banning Foreign Buyers in Country Garden Project.” South China Morning Post, August 28, 2018. https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/2161729/malaysian-housing-minister-walks-back-mahathirs-ban-overseas.
Welsh, Bridget. “This Malaysian Election Is Different.” PacNet, no. 31, May 1, 2018. https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2018/04/29/this-malaysian-election-is-different/.
Wen, Philip. “Mahathir Says China Will Sympathize with Malaysia’s Problems.” Reuters, August 20, 2018. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-malaysia-trade/chinas-premier-li-says-willing-to-push-bilateral-ties-with-malaysia-idUSKCN1L5070.
Wey, Adam Leong Kok. “Foreign Policy Concerns Swayed Malaysia’s Voters.” East Asia Forum, July 28, 2018. http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2018/07/28/foreign-policy-concerns-swayed-malaysias-voters.
Wong, Ee Lin. “Gemas-JB Rail Contract Sole Mega Rail Job for 2019, Says CIMB Research.” The Edge Markets, September 28, 2018. http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/gemasjb-rail-contract-sole-mega-rail-job-2019-says-cimb-research.
Yeoh, Emile Kok-Kheng. “China and Malaysia: Bilateral Relations, Global Linkages, and Domestic Nexus.” In China and Malaysia in a Globalizing World: Bilateral Relations, Regional Imperatives, and Domestic Challenges, edited by Emile Kok-Kheng Yeoh and Kok Chung Hou, 3–11. Kuala Lumpur: Institute of China Studies, University of Malaysia, 2006.
Yi, Tho Xin. “Off to Score on the Belt and Road.” The Star Online, May 7, 2017. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/05/07/off-to-score-on-the-belt-and-road-barely-six-months-after-his-last-visit-to-china-datuk-seri-najib-t.
Yong, Hee Kong. “Infrastructure Financing in Malaysia.” Nomura Journal of Asian Capital Markets 1, no. 2 (2017): 26–30.
Zamhari, Azlan. “Malaysia, China Sign 14 MOUs Worth RM143.6bn.” Malaysiakini News, November 2, 2016. https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/361327.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to express his appreciation to Courtland Johnson, Sovinda Po, and Xia Xue for their research assistance. He also would like to thank Xu Jing for her help conforming the chapter to publisher style requirements.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Blanchard, JM.F. (2019). Malaysia and China’s MSRI: The Road to China Was Taken Before the (Maritime Silk) Road Was Built. In: Blanchard, JM. (eds) China's Maritime Silk Road Initiative and Southeast Asia. Palgrave Studies in Asia-Pacific Political Economy. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9275-8_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9275-8_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-32-9274-1
Online ISBN: 978-981-32-9275-8
eBook Packages: Economics and FinanceEconomics and Finance (R0)