Kuala lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been steadfast in maintaining that Kuala Lumpur will not be pressured into choosing between the United States and China. However, recent comments have ignited debate regarding the sustainability of Malaysia's neutral stance amid escalating tensions between the two global powers. According to Deutsche Welle, Anwar's remarks in an August 16 interview with Al Jazeera have particularly drawn attention. His statement, "I see Taiwan as part of China, period," aligns with Beijing's stance on Taiwan. While China advocates for "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan, it has not dismissed the possibility of using force to assert control over the island. Anwar's subsequent comments seemed to further echo China's perspective. He suggested that if a province were to secede, the use of force might be justified to maintain national unity. This stance resonates with Beijing's narrative regarding Taiwan and raises questions about Malaysia's diplomatic balancing act as th e US-China rivalry intensifies in Southeast Asia.