KUALA LUMPUR – Joe Biden’s appointment as the United States president today has sent mixed signals to observers, especially over his stance towards US-Malaysia relations.
Some believe a Biden presidency would bode well for the region while others think that maybe Malaysia should not be overly dependent on the US to help support its sovereignty claims over contested parts of the South China Sea.
Certain areas in one of the world’s busiest sea routes are claimed by both China and Malaysia, which may lead to potential flashpoints between both countries.
Universiti Malaya International and Strategic Studies Department academician Roy Anthony Rogers noted that as with the other countries in the region, Malaysia can expect to witness more active US participation, and see KL-Washington ties growing again.
“I can foresee a greater engagement of the US in the region under Biden’s administration, and yes, it may be good for Malaysia as a trading nation that practises non-alignment to create balance.
“The presence of the US can also reduce overdependence on China,” he told The Vibes.
Biden is expected to officially take over what is arguably the toughest job in the world after months of political drama following the defeat of predecessor Donald Trump.
Trump’s presidency was marked with an economic tit-for-tat between two global powerhouses that disrupted markets worldwide as the US and China engaged in a trade war.
Biden, 78, will be inheriting these policies and is expected to review them in the coming days. He is also expected to immediately strengthen military coordination, pursue a more open trade policy, and initiate a more proactive foreign policy, which includes deploying warships to patrol the South China Sea.
But Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Prof Sufian Jusoh recently told The Vibes that the country must not be overly reliant on the US over China’s claim on territories in the South China Sea to avoid problems in the future.
“We will have to deal with China on our own and fend for ourselves. We can’t just depend on the US, because we also have a good relationship with Beijing.
“It is one of our main partners for investment, so we have to be nice to avoid security problems. We have to balance things, being a non-aligned country,” said the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies director. – The Vibes, January 20, 2021
