
China strongly condemns US attack on Iran, foreign ministry says
BEIJING, June 22 — China strongly condemns the US attack on Iran and on nuclear facilities supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Chinese foreign ministry said today.
The move seriously violates the United Nations Charter and worsens tensions in the Middle East, the ministry said in a statement on its website.
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China urges parties to the conflict especially Israel to cease attacks as soon as possible and begin dialogue and negotiations, the ministry said. — Reuters
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Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Can Xi, Trump, Khamenei, and Anwar get along? Yes — If the world rediscovers strategic civility — Phar Kim Beng
JUNE 28 — In a world marked by sanctions, suspicion, and soundbites, the idea that Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Ayatollah Khamenei, and Anwar Ibrahim could ever get along may seem far-fetched. But it is not impossible. The world has long misunderstood the difference between ideological differences and strategic necessity. In an era of multipolar competition and post-normal crises, the ability to disagree without destabilizing the global order is no longer a luxury—it is a prerequisite. The answer to whether these four leaders can find common ground is 'yes'—but only if the world learns to value strategic civility over ideological conformity. And only if we recognize the role of strategic convenor powers—like Malaysia under Anwar Ibrahim—in brokering spaces where dialogue, not dogma, prevails. Four leaders, four civilizational trajectories Xi Jinping leads a China determined to reclaim its historical stature through the revival of Confucian governance principles, Party supremacy, and economic statecraft. China's global posture is one of confidence—sometimes defiant, but often methodical. Donald Trump, back in office, rules through disruption. His foreign policy may seem erratic, but there is a pattern: transactionalism, spectacle, and a preference for leverage over long-term entanglements. While he loathes multilateralism, he is not instinctively drawn to war either. He wants deals—big, visible, and beneficial to domestic constituencies. Ayatollah Khamenei, presiding over a beleaguered but resilient Islamic Republic, blends revolutionary theology with geopolitical pragmatism. Despite decades of sanctions and confrontation, Tehran has always kept a channel open for diplomacy—when treated with dignity. And Anwar Ibrahim—a Muslim democrat, intellectual, and reformer—brings moral clarity without moral posturing. He is not just the Prime Minister of Malaysia; he is Asean's most articulate proponent of civilizational dialogue, advocating for coexistence between Islam, the West, and the Confucian East. His track record shows a consistent commitment to rule-based order, justice, and multilateralism anchored in ethics. When strategic interests overlap, so can leaders What connects these four leaders is not their personal affinity but their converging interests. All four, for different reasons, now operate in a world where overreach brings blowback, and where the line between strategic deterrence and economic disaster grows thinner by the day. Trump wants trade wins and less global policing. He remains open to deals that avoid new wars, especially if they burnish his legacy and strengthen U.S. industry. Xi seeks global stability to ensure China's continued rise. Tensions with the U.S. must be managed, not escalated. A rare earth agreement with Washington was recently signed—proof that economic logic can prevail over decoupling rhetoric. Khamenei, behind the veil of defiance, sees value in a stable regional order. Iran's pivot eastward, especially toward China and Asean, reflects a desire to diversify diplomacy and find breathing room from Western isolation. Anwar, more than any other, recognizes that leadership today means navigating contradictions, not escaping them. Under his stewardship, Malaysia is stepping up as a strategic convenor power—offering a rare neutral space for diplomacy between conflicting blocs. The post-normal world needs convenors, not commanders In this post-normal world—characterized by chaos, contradiction, and complexity—what is urgently missing is not hard power, but bridging power. Countries that can bring opposing sides together without being seen as biased are crucial. This is where Malaysia's role as a strategic convenor power becomes indispensable. Malaysia does not lecture. It listens. It does not impose. It hosts. Its voice resonates across the Islamic world, the Global South, and East Asia—not because it is large, but because it is trusted. The Asean Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit, and now growing Asean-GCC-China trilateral dialogues all reflect Malaysia's convening capacity. Anwar's proposal to address global problems through neutral ASEAN mediation, or to build a global moral coalition against Islamophobia and Sinophobia, are not fringe ideas—they are blueprints for how strategic convenors should behave in the 21st century. Lessons from Asean's quiet success The Asean model, for all its imperfections, thrives on strategic civility—a concept the West often mistakes for weakness. ASEAN has shown how ten countries with vastly different systems can pursue consensus, non-interference, and cooperative security without military blocs or coercion. This 'Asean way,' when applied globally, indeed, turned into Asean Will, could moderate the extremes of U.S. unilateralism, Chinese assertiveness, and Iranian resistance. But for that to happen, countries like Malaysia must be given the diplomatic space to facilitate, not just participate. Ayatollah Khamenei, presiding over a beleaguered but resilient Islamic Republic, blends revolutionary theology with geopolitical pragmatism. — AFP pic Toward a new diplomatic quadrilateral Can Xi, Trump, Khamenei, and Anwar sit at the same table—perhaps not literally, but diplomatically? If the terms are mutual respect, economic stability, and non-imposition of political systems, the answer is yes. China wants a stable periphery and global markets. The U.S. wants reduced costs and visible wins. Iran wants security guarantees and economic inclusion. Asean—led by Malaysia—wants a world where small states are not trampled by the rivalry of giants. It is not only possible, but necessary, for this emerging diplomatic quadrilateral to form. Conclusion: Replacing clash with convening The time of zero-sum diplomacy is over. No single power—American, Chinese, or Islamic—can impose its version of order without backlash. What the world needs are strategic convenor powers that can host the moral imagination of all civilizations, offering an architecture of dialogue when architecture of dominance is crumbling. Anwar, by not siding with any ideological camp, but standing for values rooted in justice and dignity, is uniquely placed to midwife this new order. Yes, Xi, Trump, Khamenei, and Anwar can get along—if the rest of us choose convening over coercion, civility over confrontation, and realism rooted in respect. * Phar Kim Beng is Professor of Asean Studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia and a former Head Teaching Fellow at Harvard University. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.


Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
MACC tracks Daim-linked assets in US, Singapore, Japan, Italy and Jersey
KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has expanded its investigation into high-value assets linked to the late Tun Daim Zainuddin and his family to five more countries. This follows earlier action in the United Kingdom and Malaysia involving several high-profile assets tied to the former finance minister and his proxies, New Straits Times reported this evening. Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper listed the five countries as the United States, Singapore, Japan, Italy and the Crown Dependency of Jersey, an island in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy, France. The assets in question were allegedly not declared to the MACC during its investigation. 'Other nations where assets are allegedly being held will also face similar action,' one unnamed source was quoted as saying. The MACC began probing Daim's financial affairs as part of a wider investigation into unexplained wealth and asset declarations involving politically exposed persons.


Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘We're staying': Five Malaysians in Iran decline evacuation, says foreign minister
KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — Five Malaysians — four students and a trader — remain in Iran and have signed declarations opting out of evacuation efforts, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said today. According to Utusan Malaysia, the foreign minister said the individuals had expressed their gratitude to the Malaysian government and Wisma Putra, but chose to remain in the conflict-affected country. 'The four students decided not to return. They signed the declaration and thanked the Malaysian government and Wisma Putra,' he said after officiating the annual general meeting of the Penajes Women's Cooperative in Rembau today. 'They told us they have chosen to stay.' Mohamad said the evacuation of Malaysians from Iran was completed at midnight on June 21, involving 24 citizens and one Singaporean. 'There are not many Malaysians in Iran. In contrast, Qatar has over 5,000 Malaysians. 'Thankfully, since the US base in Qatar was bombed, there have been no further attacks. The airspace has reopened and Malaysians in Qatar are safe,' he added.