Malaysia's China policy : the bilateral relationship

Abstract

Among the many congratulatory messages received by the Government of the Federation of Malaya on its Independence Day on 31st August 1957, were messages from Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai who informed Tunku Abdul Rahman that China had decided to give recognition to the newly independent nation. Zhou expressed the desire to see that the "friendly" relations between the two countries "be daily strengthened and developed". Malaya chose to ignore the diplomatic overture because it was bent on following an anti-communist policy both at home and on the international plane. It saw no urgency to recognise China or for that matter any other communist countries. This policy was conditioned by many factors. The main ones were: the existing international environment, the demands of the domestic political situation and the black-and-white perception of the Malayan political elite of China's profile in international relations. Show more