Speaking at a press conference with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, Anwar said that while Malaysia valued its close engagement with Beijing, this did not mean ignoring actions that could undermine regional stability.
“Once we establish the facts, we will raise the issue. Engagement does not mean condoning whatever excesses, and the Chinese know that.
“In my private exchanges with president Xi Jinping, I have made that clear,” he told reporters after the conclusion of the 47th Asean Summit and related summits.
Anwar said Malaysia, despite being a smaller nation, has every right to express its views and concerns on matters affecting peace and security in the region.
He stressed that any response must remain measured and diplomatic. “We need the wisdom not to be unnecessarily combative, but we should bring it up once the facts are established.
“This region must remain free, and Asean’s centrality means we must engage and express concerns when necessary,” he said.
Last week, a Chinese fighter jet released flares near an Australian maritime patrol aircraft conducting surveillance over the South China Sea, according to Australia’s defence department.
China’s military, meanwhile, described the incident as a response to an “intrusion” by the Australian aircraft into its airspace around the Paracel Islands, saying it had deployed naval and air forces to monitor and expel the plane, Reuters reported.
On the sidelines of the summit, Albanese said he had raised the incident “directly and clearly” with Chinese premier Li Qiang, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The incident marks the latest in a series of tense military encounters involving China that Australia has publicly criticised in recent months.
‘First phase of Gaza ceasefire must be effective’
Separately, Anwar said he had also held a candid discussion with US president Donald Trump regarding the implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan.
“I’ve had a personal discussion with Trump to ensure that the first phase is effective and that we move towards a more comprehensive solution to the conflict, including the proposed two-state solution.
“In this day and age, when we talk about democratic transition, multilateralism, and globalisation – to condone such killings is totally unacceptable and hypocritical,” he said.
Anwar also expressed his appreciation to Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong for sharing similar views on the issue.