MALAYSIA is closely monitoring the developments in the Taiwan Strait after tensions erupted between China and the United States following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, said Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah. 

Saifuddin said Malaysia also urged all concerned parties to address the situation carefully and in the best manner possible.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, today, Saifuddin underscored that peace, stability and prosperity of the region must be maintained. 

“So without going further, I will reiterate the fact that we want everyone concerned to look at the situation and address it in the best way,” he said. 

He noted that a few Asean member states proposed that the grouping’s foreign ministers make a statement in regard to US-China tensions. 

Saifuddin said Malaysia holds to the One China policy and wants to see the peace and stability of the region maintained. 

“We put a lot of value on both the US and China when it comes to trade and technology in the region. So we want to be friends with both China and the US,” he said.

The recording of his statement was made available to the media by Wisma Putra.

Tensions between China and the US heightened after Pelosi arrived in Taiwan yesterday, with China announcing military exercises using warships and aircraft for four days in waters near Taiwan as officials in Washington and Beijing exchanged acrimonious words over the visit.

Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi today described the visit as a violation of the One China principle and his country’s sovereignty. 

Pelosi is the highest-ranking American politician to visit the island in 25 years. China sees the self-governed island as part of its territory under the One China policy. – Bernama, August 3, 2022.