Article from NST Malaysia:

"THE United States-China rivalry is heating up. Every week seems to need a "Breaking News" update. The latest is the Houston-Chengdu tit for tat as one called for the closure of the other's consulate.

This will only get worse. The worry is Southeast Asian nations, which have nothing to do with their rivalry, are being caught in the middle. Neither country can blame the other for all that is wrong. Both are at fault.

The US and China must take their fight elsewhere. Let's take the fault of the US first. The US has a China problem. This was obvious when President Donald Trump went on a "Wuhandunnit" war dance, blaming China for all that was wrong with Covid-19. From bats to pangolin and everything in between were said to have Chinese characteristics.

When this didn't work, Trump blamed the Chinese lab in Wuhan for manufacturing the virus. Like in many things else, he provided no evidence at all for saying it. A little introspection on the part of Trump would help.

The fact is the US president and his administration mishandled the pandemic and when it got worse, he needed a scapegoat. China, being not faultless, was a convenient sacrificial lamb.

The US' China problem isn't just about the pandemic. It has spread from trade through Hong Kong to the plight of the Uighur in Xinjiang, not to mention the stormy waters of the South China Sea.

China, too, has a US problem. Take the storm brewing in the South China Sea. China can stop the US from interfering in its dispute with the Southeast Asian nations if it stops muscling its way in the South China Sea.

Consider two examples. On April 2, a Vietnamese fishing boat in the Paracel Islands was rammed by a Chinese maritime surveillance vessel in the disputed waters, according to Vietnam's Foreign Ministry website. The vessel picked the Vietnamese fishermen out of the sea, but that is not the point.

In April, too, a Chinese government survey vessel, Haiyang Dizhi 8, is said to have entered the exclusive economic zone of Malaysia and began a survey there. It was accompanied by a Chinese coast guard vessel, according to a Channel News Asia report.

The US and Australia didn't allow much time to pass. They quickly despatched warships (the US) and a frigate (Australia) in the name of a joint exercise to tell China that they are ready, able and willing to calm the waters of the South China Sea.

China should know that its show of power in the South China Sea will invite similar power display by others, even from as far away as the US. What's more, an alliance of the West will come together in the event of a war.

There is no alliance of the East to speak of. Even if there is one, would they support China? There is only one way to make sure that the rivalry doesn't end up in war.

China must show the world that it is, like most of the rest of the world, a party to a rules-based order. And in the case of the South China Sea, the United Nations Conference on the Laws of the Sea 1982 is it. Anything less will end up in a war of words, or worse, in a battle of bullets. ""

" The US' China problem isn't just about the pandemic. It has spread from trade through Hong Kong to the plight of the Uighur in Xinjiang, not to mention the stormy waters of the South China Sea. "

First of all, NST Leader should be able to recognize the condemned terrorism effects caused by foreign agents and / or nations in particular those USA and UK forces operating separatism and dysfunctional effects upon Hong Kong ( China ) .  The terrors and chaos had thrown back financial and business glory of Hong Kong where freedom and democratic agenda had been enjoyed among people therein until more than 2 millions youngsters ( majority of them ) were brainwashed by the west ( 5-EYE nations led by the USA and UK jointly ) to wrestle with their own city, nation ( Hong Kong ). It is hoped that such foreign induced terror tactics of the west will neither penetrate nor happen in Malaysia, a multi-racial nation which had experienced occasional political and racial chaos too. 

Secondly, as predominant Islamic in culture and belief, Malaysia, ought to be able to see the truth and admire the Xinjiang's Islamic culture squarely which was and is never been destroyed nor held back by China ( or CPC as the west wishes to quote ) . The progressiveness there in Xinjiang has multiplied harmoniously many times than a decade or two ago after fending off radical diehard jihadists who started to roam, plunder and murder in every way they perceived fit in their screwed up mindsets ( badly distorted by western forces similar to how Islamic hero Osama B Laden was trained and funded by western forces namely the US CIA ).  It is for certainty that Malaysia could and can see things in the proper Allah Islamic ways but not in those ways who are holding high up " avowed Christian ways of the USA and other western forces wanting wars and conflicts always "  ).

Thirdly, the South China Sea affairs are truly pure affairs of the regional nations within the boundaries of some ASEAN and China. The USA, UK and Australia ( western forces of 5-EYE alliance ) have absolutely no part in it whilst all concerned parties are negotiating and progressing to form a working East Asian alliance of goodwill and cooperation ( whatever cooperative entity it may be named ) to share among all as well as to benefit all parties. In contrast, western forces are attempting fiercely, viciously and vigorously to sway the mindsets of the negotiating parties to challenge China instead. Foolishly, Vietnam took the notorious lead to challenge the negotiations by violent means at sea; and had to pay a price, unfortunately. Malaysia should be brighter and smarter being an Islamic nation to see and practice the facts of the matter for the sake of peace and stability while sharing prosperity with China being its formidable trading partner ( view Chinese market appetite ). The USA has bribed certain ASEAN nations with free of charge military drones and gun boats for the matter to speak with shames and disgraces. Nothing is for free, after all, has always been the cultures of western forces / economies. Osama B Laden, Saddam Hussien, and Mohd Gaddafi had all been virtually murdered after absorbing free handouts from the west ( in the end, nothing is free, except a free passport to hell gates ).       

" There is no alliance of the East to speak of. Even if there is one, would they support China? There is only one way to make sure that the rivalry doesn't end up in war. "

Lastly, China has been embargoed by the west, particularly the USA for more than 100 years. At that “bamboo curtain era” was a very painful period of sacrifices when and where a New-China ( under CPC ) was not permitted to purchase anything more than “nuts and bolts” from the western or developed economies. China can go on its own especially now with its achieved 2nd-world largest economy plus with its backdrop of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people inside China alone who are getting wealthier, brighter and smarter and more intelligently nationalistic too ( Huawei, Alibaba, Tencent, etc..etc…etc… and countless others are in the making ). 

Malaysia may not be able to see nor visualize China’s humongous national and global developments but China’s BRI, AIIB & BRICS can say something concrete and have all taken off to good starting points. Not just talking only !