Malaysia’s U.S. Trade Pact Triggers China, Sovereignty Backlash

Malaysia’s opposition says a U.S.-Malaysia rare earths deal forces Malaysia to follow U.S. sanctions on China and cede sovereignty.
US President Donald Trump (L) and Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (R) hold signed documents during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)

The United States is moving to cut China out of the supply chains for rare earths, critical minerals, and advanced electronics, and it is using Malaysia-U.S. rare earths deal to do it, as said by one of the top opposition figure in Malaysia.

Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Mohamed Azmin Ali, a former international trade and industry minister, said the deal pulls Malaysia directly into that confrontation and puts the country on Washington’s side against China.

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by Edwin Shri Bimo

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