(Aug 19): Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s implication that he wouldn’t condemn China’s use of force against Taiwan has drawn praise from Beijing and criticism from Taipei, bolstering the Southeast Asian nation’s effort to deepen ties with its largest trading partner.

“China appreciates the remarks by Prime Minister Anwar,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Wednesday at a daily briefing. “I would like to reiterate that there’s only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and China must and will be reunited.”

Anwar, in an interview with Al Jazeera released on Sunday, said that he saw “Taiwan as part of China, period,” reiterating Malaysia’s adherence to the one-China policy. He also supported China’s right to use force in order to unify the country.

China views Taiwan as part of its territory, a claim the government in Taipei rejects, asserting the island is already a de facto independent nation.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Anwar’s comments, saying in a statement that his “one-sided support for China could negatively impact Taiwanese businesses’ confidence in investing in Malaysia.”

Taipei warned that rhetoric supporting unilateral efforts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait via the threat of force “severely damages political trust between Taiwan and Malaysia.”

The ministry also questioned Anwar’s position, commenting that Malaysia’s leader has “long portrayed himself as a defender of democracy and human rights,” which includes respecting “the will of Taiwan’s people.”

The back and forth underscores the delicate balancing act for Malaysia, which has sought closer economic ties with China while maintaining extensive trade and investment relationships with Taiwan and other major Asian economies.

Malaysia has tried to position itself as a neutral and pragmatic player amid intensifying rivalry between China and the US. Taiwanese companies including Foxconn Group and ASE Technology Holding Co have meanwhile invested in Malaysia’s electronics and semiconductor industries.

In his interview with Al Jazeera, Anwar, when asked whether he would condemn China’s statement that it reserves the right to use force if unification cannot be achieved peacefully, cited Malaysia as an example, saying that if one of its states were to decide to separate, he’d also try to stop it.

“If one province decides to break away, do we use force?” Anwar was quoted as saying. “I think I will protect the sanctity and unity of the nation.”

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