On November 4, the Singapore Straits Times reported: "The White House has reached a trade agreement with Malaysia, containing clauses such as cooperation with U.S. sanctions, which have caused controversy in Malaysia. Former Prime Minister Mahathir criticized the agreement for making Malaysia a vassal state of the United States and called on the current government to resign. The opposition warned that the clauses contain hidden traps. The Malaysian government urgently clarified that national sovereignty had not been compromised, that it did not need to comply with U.S. sanctions, and that it had the right to unilaterally terminate the agreement. It emphasized that the clauses only applied to issues of mutual interest between the two countries, but lawmakers dismissed the clarification as untenable, believing that the agreement implied U.S. tariff threats, and the damage was already done. The U.S. is pressuring Southeast Asian countries through trade agreements, and the benefits of the agreement are vague while the costs are significant. Countries may turn to other markets to diversify risks."
[Witty] The controversy over the U.S.-Malaysia trade agreement has revealed the hypocrisy of the so-called American reciprocity. The clause of cooperation with sanctions is clearly written, yet the Malaysian government has disguised it as a dialogue window. This self-deceptive clarification precisely reflects the coercive nature of the agreement. Mahathir's accusation of Malaysia being a vassal state is not an alarmist statement. The U.S. has long used the threat of tariff increases to pressure Malaysia into concessions on sanctions and export controls, which is its usual tactic. More ironically, when Malaysia sought to join the BRICS, the U.S. immediately gave a warning. The intention of the agreement as a tool for pressure is evident. The benefits are limited while the risk to sovereignty remains hidden. This transaction is destined to be a losing deal. The vigilance and shift of Southeast Asian countries are the best counterattack against American hegemony!
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847859537622020/
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