The content of this article is written with authoritative information combined with personal opinions, and the source of the literature and screenshots have been marked at the end of the article, please be aware.
Since the Soviet Union ceased to exist in 1991, the United States has become the only pole in the world, often arbitrarily sanctioning countries that oppose its own camp, and most small countries have no choice but to obey in the face of America's strong military and economic superiority.
However, recently the United States wanted to impose sanctions on Iran, but Malaysia did not obey, and Malaysia's interior minister openly stated at a press conference that Malaysia only abides by United Nations sanctions and will not implement the sanctions policy of a certain country or region.
So why does Malaysia dare to "disobey" the United States on the international stage? Behind this turmoil, what secrets of the untold political struggle are hidden?
1. Why is the United States sanctioning Iran?
In October 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, and a new round of unprecedented and fierce Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out, and the United States had to face two fronts of supporting Ukraine and Israel at the same time.
According to incomplete statistics, as of 2024, the United States has accumulated more than $50 billion in various assistance to Ukraine, and it is even more comprehensive support for Israel in the direction of economic, military, and even social opinion.
In fact, the United States is not having a good time, the hollowing out of the manufacturing industry has led to a shortage of military production capacity, the domestic protests against aid to Ukraine and Israel continue to erupt, and the Iranian-backed Arc of Resistance represented by the Houthis has also caused the United States a headache in the Middle East.
Iran has been at the vanguard of anti-American efforts in recent decades, single-handedly creating the Arc of Resistance to weaken American influence in the Middle East.
After the outbreak of a new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Allah Party of the Arc of Resistance camp continued to attack Israeli troops in the north, and the Houthis directly blocked the Red Sea, forbade pro-Israeli ships to enter, and even frequently attacked US warships.
In particular, after Israel attacked the Iranian Embassy in Syria, in the face of Iran's strong response to Israel, the United States finally could not sit still and planned to impose a new round of sanctions.
Since Iran is a country that relies heavily on oil exports for revenue, the United States has targeted Iran's exports this time, not only sanctioning Chinese financial institutions and companies that buy oil from Iran, but also prohibiting other countries from helping Iran sell oil.
The U.S. move is intended to control Iran's energy exports and reduce Iran's revenues, thereby weakening Iran's support for anti-American forces.
However, what the United States did not expect was that the sanctions that were good before are now directly and openly opposed by some countries!
Second, Malaysia has slapped the United States in the face more than once
Recently, a senior official of the US Treasury Department led a delegation to visit Malaysia, but this visit was not a friendly exchange between countries, but also had some implications of asking teachers to be guilty.
The representative of the United States pointed out that the ships of the Malaysian company sometimes help Iran sell oil at night, which is unacceptable to the international community, and that Malaysian financial institutions and economic entities cannot help Iran's nefarious cause, so the United States has brought guidance and advice on Iran during this visit.
In the face of the arrogant accusations of the United States, the Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs directly and forcefully responded to the United States, which led to the scene at the press conference at the beginning of the article.
In fact, the so-called sanctions of the United States are often not through the United Nations, but a meeting in the United States, and sanctions whoever it wants.
In fact, this is completely inconsistent with the spirit of the international community, Iran, China, Malaysia and other countries are all sovereign countries, and it is up to the sovereign countries to decide with whom they want to trade, so how can it be the turn of the United States to dictate them?
In fact, this is not the first time that the Malaysian side has slapped the United States in the face in public.
More than a month ago, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in an interview with the Financial Times that it is unreasonable for the United States and the West to ask us to choose a side, and that Malaysia is not afraid of China's strength and development, and that Malaysia will adhere to an independent policy instead of becoming a pawn of the United States and the West.
In just a few months, Malaysia has not only gone against the United States, but what is the confidence of this small country to do so? Isn't he afraid of American retaliation?
3. The reason why Malaysia dares to slap the United States in the face
One of the most important reasons why Malaysia dares to argue with the United States is geopolitical factors, as an island nation in Southeast Asia, it is too close to China and too far from the United States.
Since the beginning of the new century, China's economy has continued to develop and take off, and its military strength has continued to increase.
China is Malaysia's most important trading partner, China is not only Malaysia's largest source of imports, but also an important exporter of goods.
With China's economic support, Malaysia is naturally not afraid of US sanctions, just like Russia, with its back on China, and the longer it is sanctioned by the United States, the more ruthless it becomes, the better the economy is.
Second, in the era of economic globalization, Malaysia is also an important trading partner for the United States, and in the face of the declining United States, Malaysia also knows that the United States does not want to lose its economic interests in Asia, so it has the confidence to oppose the United States.
Finally, as an Islamic country, Malaysia must support Palestine in its resistance to Israel's brutal aggression, and opposition to Israel means opposition to the United States.
Fourth, Malaysia is a role model for ASEAN countries
On closer examination, the reason why the United States took action against Malaysia to contain Iran is an important reason, and the fundamental reason is indeed the global confrontation between China and the United States.
In order to contain China's development, the United States urgently needs to find its own proxies in Asia and make trouble for China in the South China Sea, so that countries such as the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia have become targets.
In the face of coercion and temptation from the United States and the West, Malaysia has understood that agreeing to stand on the side of the United States can only become a pawn of the United States in its struggle for world hegemony like Ukraine, and only by insisting on independent decision-making can the peaceful development of the country be realized.
Malaysia's choice is a warning to all ASEAN countries, especially the Philippines, that being the vanguard of the United States will not end well, and that only by loving peace can it stand tall on the world stage for a long time.
Resources:
On May 5, 2024, Xinhua News Agency New Media: Malaysian exhibitors at the Canton Fair: Economic and trade cooperation builds a bridge of friendship between the two countries
May 10, 2024, Observer.com: Malaysia's home minister said after meeting with U.S. officials: only recognize United Nations sanctions, not the United States