Malaysia and China Established Diplomatic Ties in 1974

Malaysia was the first ASEAN member to establish diplomatic ties with China in 1974.

The rapproche-ment between China and the United States was said to have made it possible for Malaysia to respond to China’s “diplomatic offensive.”

Malaysian leaders also believed that China would be committed to a policy of non-interference and co-existence if “it was allowed to play its legitimate role.” Malaysia sided with Albania in 1971 in admitting China to the United Nations, and this reportedly paved the way for establishing diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China.

Equally important was the personality factor.

“Unlike Tungku Abdul Rahman, the former prime minister who was considered rather pro-ethnic Chinese, Tun Razak had an image as the champion of the Malay interest. Therefore he could afford to move closer to the PRC without causing an uproar among the Malay population.” (Leo Suryadinata, China and the ASEAN States: The Ethnic Chinese Dimension, Singapore University Press, National University of Singapore, 1985).

The visit of Tun Razak to China was also said to be timed to garner more Chinese votes during the 1974 Malaysian general election. Indeed, the National Front won a major victory that year, receiving not only the majority of the Malay vote but those of the ethnic Chinese as well.

Malaysian leaders were also concerned with the national status of the ethnic Chinese and viewed the establishment of diplomatic ties as a means to resolve the issue. At that time, China claimed that Chinese overseas were its nationals unless the country concerned had diplomatic ties and signed a dual nationality treaty.