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Sunday April 4, 2021 08:08 AM (GMT + 7)
Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he said “big brother” to show respect for Mr. Vuong Nghi and those words have no relation to the relationship between the two countries.
The South China Morning Post reported that on April 3, Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein tried to clarify his statement by calling his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi the “older brother” during his visit to China this week.
On March 3, Hishammuddin wrote on Twitter that “With respect, Wang Yi is older and a senior foreign minister, so personally, he is the ‘older brother’. Respect does not mean weakness ”.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (left) and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Photo: SCMP / XINHUA
Mr. Hishammuddin said that those words “do not refer to the bilateral relationship between the two countries, because the solid relationship (Malaysia-China) is based on mutual trust and equality.”
“Rest assured that Malaysia remains independent, principled and firm in terms of foreign policy, based on the values of peace, humanity, justice and equality,” Hishammuddin wrote.
Earlier, a video that recorded Hishammuddin’s statement during a press conference on April 1 after a bilateral meeting in Fujian province sparked a wave of backlash on social media sites in Malaysia and diplomatic observation from the homeowners.
In the video, Mr. Hishammuddin said, “You will always be my older brother.” In response, Mr. Vuong spoke in English and used the microphone without using the microphone: “We are brothers.”
According to critics, Hishammuddin’s spokesman shows that Malaysia is “subject” to China, the South China Morning Post reported.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on April 3 that he was surprised by Hishammuddin’s statement and urged the foreign minister to withdraw his statement.
“This is not the language and style that should be used in the world of diplomacy and international relations because it seems to position Malaysia as a foreign puppet. In any power in the world, his statement is clearly a form of insult to our country.” – Anwar said at 3-4.
The wave of controversy over Hishammuddin’s speech is believed to have undermined observers’ perception that it was an effective bilateral visit by the Malaysian foreign minister.
This is Hishammuddin’s first visit to China as Malaysia’s top diplomat since taking office in March 2020.
The government of Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is said to have tried to balance relations with China equally due to the economic influence of Beijing.
China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner. Relations between the two countries in recent years have been challenged by Beijing’s increasingly assertive foreign policy in the region, as well as maritime claims in the South China Sea.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi this week held private talks with the foreign ministers of the four countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Fujian province.
Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishna was the first person to meet Wang in Fujian province in 2-4 days. Next up was Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein for 3-4 days, Ms. Retno Marsudi, Indonesian Foreign Minister, and his counterpart Teddy Locsin Jr. from the Philippines on April 4.
Source: https://plo.vn/quoc-te/goi-ong-vuong-nghi-anh-ca-ngoai-truong-malaysia-thanh-minh-976735.html
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