From Collins Chong

China-Malaysia relations have set the tone for greater avenues of partnerships, being banked on as the most crucial platform in safeguarding our economic interests and thus the livelihood and progress of millions of people.

The visit by foreign minister Wang Yi has again highlighted the enormous stakes at play, in cementing the importance of both players to one another for both geopolitical and economic reasons.

The climate over the past two decades at least, has shifted from initial wariness over the intention of Beijing to one that is increasingly in pivot to Beijing’s sphere of dominance and grip. Left with no viable option but to prioritise our overwhelming dependence on Beijing’s limitless and easy capital and the ever vital trade ties, we are left with increased vulnerabilities and tied hands over the larger picture of long-term national interests and survival.

Increasingly, openings and options for greater chips and cards in central issues and in negotiations over deeper Track 1 policies have been limited by the dominant sway and leverage held against our say. The entrenched grip and control of the mighty Chinese influence and the stakes over our fundamental economic essence and increasingly our political independence have served as a cause for concern, where the phenomena is not confined to our nation alone.

The larger aim of revitalising the Chinese Dream by 2049 and the hundred-year marathon of reviving the great Chinese Rejuvenation have seen an array of strategic chess moves from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and a larger aim of controlling the South China Sea with this regard in mind.

The ultimate dream of reuniting Taiwan has also projected greater bellicose and assertive measures in the region and beyond, including the Pacific and the greater Indo Pacific sphere. Reverberations and fear created have backfired on Beijing, pushing these affected players deeper into the security assurance spectrum provided by the West.

In China’s calculated efforts to deny American forces’ power projection in its immediate vicinity and to maintain its divide and rule approach, these manoeuvres are not sustainable in the long-term strategic game. The eventual shift to the moral conviction of universal norms and values based on the ideals of democracy, respect for human rights and sustainable trade and economic policies will trigger regional and global awakening of self-sustaining these norms and order for their eventual long-term survival.

This mixture of anxiety and fascination with China’s return to power continues to shape the security architecture for the region.

The spectrum of competition and relations with Beijing remains structural, systemic and value-driven where individual influence and affiliations matter less. Beijing’s no holds barred impetus and drive in narrowing the existing power gap with an all-out approach, while simultaneously enhancing its foothold in the Indo Pacific, are banked on as the new major fuel by Washington in justifying its renewed containment measures.

Beijing has wisely used the openings, opportunities and guarantees provided by America in maintaining this global system that allows peaceful access and progress of trade that has fuelled Beijing’s historic rise.

A pivot away from the conventional dogma and trapping of sheer dependence on volume of trade, market access and capital as the pioneer tools of growth will mean less dependence on Beijing’s advantages and offering in this spectrum.

As lesser focus is given on this, the gradual transition to greater internal self-sustaining capacity will render the long-term dependence on Beijing’s limited offering to be reduced. As the world transits to a new pillar of innovation and value-based growth essence, the West’s endurance and staying power in this parameter should not be quickly dismissed or underestimated.

The current state of affairs of risky overtures and overdependence on one power in securing one’s immediate urgent needs of economic repairs and in ensuring internal political legitimacy are unsustainable, risky and detrimental to both the economic vitality and sovereignty preservation of the state and other players.

We have tried to maintain our centrality and to steer clear from being trapped between the lines of conflict between Washington and Beijing, to no avail. For as much as we have portrayed our intention to encourage mutual cooperation and strategic interdependence with both powers, those official stances and spheres of purposes are confined to official nuances and needs on the surface.

We remain rightly fearful and wary of the Chinese actions and increasing acts of impunity in the region which violate our territorial integrity and national sovereignty. Greater scramble for assurances of counterbalance measures from the West, especially Washington, has been initiated with greater urgency discreetly.

More stark measures on official capacities are not able to be executed, in maintaining the needed ties and in avoiding any reprisals from Beijing. This meticulous yet risky and unsustainable approach has been the domain of our orientation for years, which needs a strategic and futuristic revamp.

We have been charting our policies on a safe mode and strategic ambiguity for decades, at the larger expense of our collective national interests.

A clear, strategic and strong stance should be charted, with wise and strategic clarity of vision and conviction in jettisoning our entrenched reliance on Beijing and to set a new course of strategic clarity and dependence with foresight on future great players that are both dependable and mature in universal norms adoption.

The dramatic transformation in China’s modernisation in the military field, mastery of futuristic technology and world economy, and dominance in innovation give new sense of both awe and anxiety, but Washington remains confident in its existing and future advantages in braving the containment challenges.

Washington will continue to take the moral high road in upholding the international systems and norms pillared by rule of law and values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights. Washington is also aware that the pattern, pace and outcome of this game are actually shaped by the strength of its own internal progress and future orientation. Barring an absolute failure and total collapse of America’s institutions and values, China’s pathway to its vision of global superiority will be effectively halted.

The short game might be Beijing’s to lose for now, but the long game is certainly Washington’s to squander.

Collins Chong is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.