Missing the big picture

Mighty neighbour: China holding military exercises in the disputed South China Sea in 2021. – Xinhua/AP

PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been rather busy travelling overseas for several working visits in recent weeks.

Apart from the traditional Asean round for a first time leader, Ismail Sabri also flew to Washington DC in mid May for the Asean-US special summit where Asean leaders met US President Joe Biden at the White House.

Just last week, he flew to Tokyo to meet his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and made his debut at the Nikkei’s International Conference on the Future of Asia, an annual gathering of political, economic and industry leaders from the Asia-Pacific.

In Washington, Ismail Sabri said Asean leaders showed a common stand during the discussions on Russia-Ukraine and South China Sea issues.

Asean, he said, wants the Russia-Ukraine crisis to be resolved at the negotiation table. Malaysia pointed out that Southeast Asian countries were also affected by the war, especially in terms of the rise in inflation and food prices, hence the call for the war to be resolved through peaceful means.

At the Nikkei conference where he delivered his speech in Bahasa Melayu, the prime minister cited three key points to enable Asia to play a role in leading a divided world. They were strengthening regional economic integration, strengthening cooperation and consultation mechanisms, as well as cooperation in addressing the challenges of climate change.

The prime minister followed the script closely but in an interview with the Nikkei, the world’s largest financial newspaper, Ismail Sabri was quoted as saying China should not take any cues from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to attempt further advances in the disputed South China Sea.

“We hope China doesn’t take advantage of what is happening between Russia and Ukraine.

“Not only China but all other major powers should not take advantage in the South China Sea,” Nikkei quoted him.

South China Sea seemed to be uppermost in his mind during this visit because in his IsmailSabri60 twitter account, he tweeted “Malaysia mahu supaya Laut China Selatan kekal bebas sebagai zon perdagangan bebas. Freedom of navigation adalah dihormati tetapi pencerobohan tidak dibenarkan. Kedaulatan Malaysia tidak boleh dikompromi & kita akan menghalang sesiapa saja yang cuba mencabul kedaulatan negara.”

In the first line of that now deleted tweet, Ismail Sabri indicated Malaysia wants South China Sea to be a free trade zone.

What is wrong with this picture?

First, the war in Ukraine has nothing to do with situation in the South China Sea – an area claimed by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and also Taiwan – although some quarters have expressed concern that the international response to the conflict will dictate the future of China’s disputed boundaries in the South China Sea, especially with repeated encroachment of Chinese vessels over the years.

But when Ismail Sabri singled out China against taking the Russian route vis-a-vis the South China Sea, you start to wonder whether he was misquoted or probably he was not properly briefed on Malaysia’s policy on the South China Sea.

Foreign policy is complicated dealing with many global issues and he is barely one year into the job. But one should at least expect him to get the big picture.

Malaysia has always been consistent and insisted that the South China Sea remains a peaceful sea of trade route where all parties (not just claimant states) must ensure the area’s safety, exercise self restraint and avoid provocations.

Perhaps it is a wrong choice of words on the “free trade zone” but the Prime Minister’s Office must be mindful that any off the cuff remarks or statements uploaded in the social media, especially on foreign policy, would be closely followed by foreign governments.

Since 2002, Asean and China have been negotiating for a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea to avoid any tense or military provocation. In any negotiations, statements are crafted carefully and considered before being agreed by all parties. Some terms used and agreed cannot be simply changed. It is there for a reason.

A leader cannot be an alarmist but must be the voice of reason. Malaysia especially must not be seen as being stuck in a rivalry between the superpowers.

The Prime Minister’s interview with Nikkei has been described by a former diplomat as crude and blunt.

“The points made by the Prime Minister are consistent with Malaysia’s stand. However the language used is rather undiplomatic, instead of the normal diplomatic lingo which should be used at all times vis-a-vis China. The language should always be persuasive and non-confrontational because China is a superpower and permanent neighbour of Malaysia.

“This means Malaysia needs to be careful with China because China is like the durian and Malaysia is the cucumber. Against the elephant, the sang kancil (mousedeer) can only survive and win with dexterity,” he said.

It is only a friendly reminder to the prime minister or any of his Cabinet ministers against making a boo-boo in the international arena or proposing ideas which can only bring disrepute and real losses for Malaysia at the international level.

There will always be elements of trying to influence Malaysia to be on their side. Malaysia doesn’t have to fall into their game and we will be foolish if we do so.

This is where the diplomacy 101 should apply, not only to the Prime Minister but also to his circle of advisors and officers who are “new to the game”.