Malaysia’s actions indicate that it continues to pursue an inclusive and prudent “equidistance” policy.

Beijing could seek to limit the spillover from a Taiwan conflict into the South China Sea and offer to assist in evacuation operations for Southeast Asian citizens.

China’s role in the Mekong region demonstrates that development cooperation often requires closer security cooperation.

As the world undergoes a new round of fragmentation and major power rivalry that includes the advancing of divergent visions of global order, Singapore is discovering that its interests are increasingly being pulled in different directions.

Washington aims to convince Southeast Asian countries that U.S. military power in the region is benign, while Beijing aims to convince the region that its rise offers economic opportunities. Malaysia assesses both powers as having constructive roles to play.

Beijing says that over 180 countries accept its “one China principle” regarding Taiwan, but the reality is more complicated.

For now, Malaysia remains committed to maintaining public displays of friendly relations with China while handling any differences quietly. But the difficulties and pressures of keeping the friendship real, alive, and substantive are greater than ever.

This article distills several potential principles for Beijing to adopt in its competition with the United States, including two each in the following three areas: Marxism, traditional Chinese culture, and China’s historical experiences since 1949.

While deteriorating U.S.-China ties would be distressing under any circumstances, the present situation is especially sobering when one considers its proximate catalyst: a global health-cum-economic crisis that should have occasioned emergency coordination between Washington and Beijing.

As China’s engagement with African countries has grown over the past several years, Beijing is increasingly turning to security contractors to protect its Belt and Road Initiative projects, citizens, and diplomats.