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

Gerstl, Alfred

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@article{ Gerstl2020,
 title = {Malaysia's Hedging Strategy Towards China Under Mahathir Mohamad (2018-2020): Direct Engagement, Limited Balancing, and Limited Bandwagoning},
 author = {Gerstl, Alfred},
 journal = {Journal of Current Chinese Affairs},
 number = {1},
 pages = {106-131},
 volume = {49},
 year = {2020},
 issn = {1868-4874},
 doi = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1868102620964219},
 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.},
}