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Mahathir Mohamad supporters the day after his election. Photo: Reuters
Since returning to power after his stunning election victory in May, 93-year-old Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has made a series of comments reflective of weaker states’ views of the evolving Asian order in the Trump-Xi era. These include a firmer stance on the South China Sea disputes, Malaysia’s relations with the Asian powers (especially concerning the controversial China-backed infrastructure projects and Japan’s regional role), as well as the future of multilateral trading arrangements.

Mahathir’s comments that “warships attract other warships” in particular – alongside his peace proposal for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries to patrol the disputed waters by small boats “to deal with pirates, not to fight another war” – have generated discussions in foreign policy circles about whether a “Mahathir Doctrine” is emerging in Malaysia’s external policy.

This extends to how the views of the world’s most senior statesman might translate into regional visions amid the escalating US-China trade confrontation and global uncertainty.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya. Photo: Agence France-Presse
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya. Photo: Agence France-Presse

Judging from Mahathir’s recent remarks, as well as his policies during his first premiership from 1981–2003 (“Mahathir 1.0”), three elements can be identified as the core constituents of the emerging Mahathir Doctrine:

The South China Sea should be a sea of cooperation, connectivity, and community – building, not confrontation or conflict.

Diplomatic consultations, not military swaggering, are the key to managing and resolving any inter – state disputes in East Asia and elsewhere.

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