Publication

This commentary analyzes the territorial disputes over the South China Sea between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors from the Malaysian point of view. The author notes that Malaysia’s strong reaction to an increase in Chinese territorial claims suggests a departure from Kuala Lumpur’s previous low-key responses and identifies five possible factors that led to this change. They include 1) the dramatic increase in land reclamation by China in various parts of the South China Sea, 2) increased intrusions by China into Malaysian waters, 3) proliferation of other claimants’ tactics in advancing their territorial claims, 4) renewed US strategic commitments to the region and 5) domestic political competition in Malaysia.