If you want a positive vision for a peaceful future, look Southeast. Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim explains why and how ASEAN contributes to global prosperity through active nonalignment.
As a Malaysian, being neutral is pragmatic because not only we are sandwiched between two great powers in the Pacific (US and China), but two great power in Asia (China and India).
ASEAN has four main religions, many ethnicities and different languages. In the Cold War era we are at the very heart of the conflict (Vietnam War, Indochina War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesian New Order etc), and some geopolitic analyst said we could be balkanised.
We are emerging economic centre of the world, our demography are somehow still healthy, we have multiple issues among ourselves but we manage to do it diplomaticly.
As a Malaysian, being neutral is pragmatic because not only we are sandwiched between two great powers in the Pacific (US and China), but two great power in Asia (China and India).
ASEAN has four main religions, many ethnicities and different languages. In the Cold War era we are at the very heart of the conflict (Vietnam War, Indochina War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesian New Order etc), and some geopolitic analyst said we could be balkanised.
We are emerging economic centre of the world, our demography are somehow still healthy, we have multiple issues among ourselves but we manage to do it diplomaticly.
Malaysia has struggled for decades to reach this stage. The country has not exactly been a beacon of rights or progress, and Ibrahim himself was jailed on bogus charges for taking courageous stands on controversial issues. The fact that he overcame such vicious character assassination to become PM is truly incredible. I hope this marks a permanent change for Malaysia and not a "try something new" phase.
Imagine what would have happened if ASEAN did not have non-interference with internal politics of member countries as a core principle. Indonesia and Thailand applying economic and/or military pressure for Malaysia to "fix" it's politics. Much better to let Malaysians sort out their problems without foreign interference.
As a Malaysian, being neutral is pragmatic because not only we are sandwiched between two great powers in the Pacific (US and China), but two great power in Asia (China and India).
ASEAN has four main religions, many ethnicities and different languages. In the Cold War era we are at the very heart of the conflict (Vietnam War, Indochina War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesian New Order etc), and some geopolitic analyst said we could be balkanised.
We are emerging economic centre of the world, our demography are somehow still healthy, we have multiple issues among ourselves but we manage to do it diplomaticly.
"And yes, the civil war in Malaysia didn’t stop."
I'm guessing you meant Myanmar here.
Haha I was shocking too when he said that. The last time Malaysia is at war in the 1960s during Konfrantasi with Indonesia and Malayan Emergency.
As a Malaysian, being neutral is pragmatic because not only we are sandwiched between two great powers in the Pacific (US and China), but two great power in Asia (China and India).
ASEAN has four main religions, many ethnicities and different languages. In the Cold War era we are at the very heart of the conflict (Vietnam War, Indochina War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesian New Order etc), and some geopolitic analyst said we could be balkanised.
We are emerging economic centre of the world, our demography are somehow still healthy, we have multiple issues among ourselves but we manage to do it diplomaticly.
Malaysia has struggled for decades to reach this stage. The country has not exactly been a beacon of rights or progress, and Ibrahim himself was jailed on bogus charges for taking courageous stands on controversial issues. The fact that he overcame such vicious character assassination to become PM is truly incredible. I hope this marks a permanent change for Malaysia and not a "try something new" phase.
Imagine what would have happened if ASEAN did not have non-interference with internal politics of member countries as a core principle. Indonesia and Thailand applying economic and/or military pressure for Malaysia to "fix" it's politics. Much better to let Malaysians sort out their problems without foreign interference.