Following two days in Tianjin for a regional bloc summit and another day of meetings with top Chinese leaders, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stood on the rostrum at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to witness a spectacular military parade.
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His appearance underscored Malaysia’s alignment with China’s push for a multipolar global order.
Over the past week, China has showcased its growing diplomatic clout and military strength, culminating in Wednesday’s parade, which followed the two-day annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tianjin.
For Beijing, hosting these two major events back to back was a calculated demonstration of scale, diversity and visibility that could amplify its message that China is able to bridge divides and unify the Global South amid a turbulent international landscape.
Malaysia, which also faces US tariff threats, has taken this chance to show its solidarity with the Global South in the face of Washington’s unilateralism.
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On Monday, Anwar expressed support for the Global Governance Initiative – a model for global governance introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the SCO summit that highlights sovereign equality, adherence to the international rule of law and multilateralism.