Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's recent comments, including stating that he views Taiwan as "part of China, period" in an interview earlier this month, and his call to bolster Malaysia's defenses in Sabah, have sparked debate about whether Malaysia is shifting away from its traditional non-alignment policy towards China. Taiwan's government has condemned Anwar's remarks, warning of potential negative impacts on Taiwanese business confidence in Malaysia. Anwar later clarified that Malaysia respects China's position but favors a peaceful resolution in the Taiwan Strait. His call for increased defense spending in Sabah was partly justified by the development of US-backed military facilities in the neighboring Philippines, which Malaysia views with unease due to its ongoing dispute with the Philippines over Sabah.