When engagement is seen as a threat

IN March, following the trilateral security partnership formed between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, known as Aukus, Malaysia issued a strong statement which basically stated it does not support the move.

While the statement acknowledged the need of these countries to enhance their defence capabilities, Putrajaya told the pact to fully respect and comply with Malaysia’s existing national regime in regard to the operation of nuclear-powered submarines in Malaysia’s waters, including those laws under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the South-East Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty, and the Asean Declara-tion on the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality.