New Delhi, March 9 -- Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim spoke up in defence of ties with China and denounced the "China-phobia" sentiment among the West and the pressure to take sides in recent weeks and most recently in Australia during the Australia-ASEAN Summit.

The call for a persistent stance against any rules-violating behaviours is rooted in universal adherence to a rules-based order and common respect for international law. In standing up against aggressions and rules-violating behaviours, this does not translate into efforts by one power to contain another. It is to ensure that the rules apply equally to all players and powers, and not kowtowing to the mantra of might is right.

The West and Washington have called for the ...