Malaysia’s Hedging Strategy Towards China Under Mahathir Mohamad (2018–2020): Direct Engagement, Limited Balancing, and Limited Bandwagoning

Author(s)

Alfred Gerstl

Abstract

To mitigate the risks and maximise the opportunities arising from China’s great power behaviour, Malaysia employed a hedging strategy during Mahathir Mohamad’s second term as prime minister. From 2018 until 2020, the middle power Malaysia applied direct engagement and elements of limited balancing and limited bandwagoning in a flexible yet consistent manner. Neither China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) nor its actions in the South China Sea caused a sea change in Malaysia’s hedging strategy. Crucially, the policies towards China were embedded in omnidirectional, friendly, and well-balanced relations with the United States, Japan, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Theoretically, this contribution applies an updated concept of hedging, initially introduced by Cheng-Chwee Kuik. As an important innovation, it adds a specific component to assess the perceptions of the political leader(s) of risks and opportunities related to the hedging target as well as the strategic value of potential balancing partners.

Organisation(s)

Department of East Asian Studies

Journal

Journal of Current Chinese Affairs

Volume

49

Pages

106-131

No. of pages

26

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1177/1868102620964219

Publication date

12-2020

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

506007 International relations

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all), Political Science and International Relations, Sociology and Political Science

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/87be8aa1-4d4e-467f-9198-b2afdf5dbaa1