DAVOS, Switzerland : There will always be border disputes in Asia, and China should not be singled out because of tensions in the South China Sea, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday ( Jan 22 ).
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Anwar said that Malaysia had border problems with Singapore and its other neighborhood in Southeast Asia but they still managed to maintain good relationships.
While Malaysia even has sea issues with China, it will push forward with improving relationships because it is an important state, he said.
” We have outstanding marriage with Singapore. We also have border problems with them,” Anwar said.
” I treat the Thais as my home users, the rulers, but still we have some borders problems with them. So it is with Indonesia, with the Philippines.
” ( But ) we don’t go to war, we don’t threaten. We do debate. We get a touch… unhappy, but we do focus on the financial fundamentals and proceed about,” he added.
” Why is it that we may then one out China as an issue? ” Anwar asked.
” That’s my only argument. Do I have an concern about it? Well, but do I have a concern? No. Do we have any unintended conflicts? No,” he said.
He said that while Malaysia has strong ties with the United States, China is an important ally that it must likewise participate with.
” Of course, people highlight the issue of the South China Sea… But perhaps I tell you that Malaysia is a maritime state,” he said.
China has been “very fair” in dealing with Malaysia, Anwar added.
” They take us seriously, more severely than many of the countries of our ancient allies and friends,” he said, without mentioning any country.