Responding to Controversy Over Support for Military Unification: Anwar Stresses Malaysia's Unchanged 'One China' Stance, Hopes for Peaceful Resolution in Taiwan Strait

In response to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly criticizing his comments on Taiwan as damaging regional stability and investor confidence, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated after attending the 'TikTok Shop Summit Malaysia 2026' that Malaysia's position on the 'One China' policy has never changed. He emphasized that this stance has been maintained since the era of the country's second Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, and continues to the present day. In Anwar's view, the Taiwan issue must be resolved through peaceful means.

Quoting Anwar, Asia Vision reported that he stressed Malaysia's position is not a new assertion but a long-standing policy adhered to by successive governments over the past decades. "In my view, this policy remains valid, and we will continue to uphold it. Of course, we always hope to seek a peaceful solution!"

Regarding the backlash from Taiwan following his interview with Al Jazeera, Anwar cited U.S. history for clarification, noting that during the American Revolutionary War and Civil War, the U.S. did not allow any territory to secede from the Union. "I was simply adopting the same stance," he said.

Anwar suggested that the negative reactions following the interview might have stemmed from how Al Jazeera framed and emphasized the issue. He added that Malaysia has always respected China's position but firmly believes that "peace is the best choice," which aligns with current global efforts. In his understanding, the 'One China' policy is widely accepted by the United Nations (UN), which recognizes China as one country, while the other side is referred to as Taiwan.

As the Al Jazeera interview video gained attention, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a stern statement, condemning Anwar for implying Taiwan is a separatist province and publicly endorsing Beijing's use of force to annex Taiwan. It reiterated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent state, not subordinate to the People's Republic of China, and warned that such one-sided remarks could severely damage political trust between Taiwan and Malaysia, undermining Taiwanese businesses' confidence in investing in Malaysia.