'War is uncivilized': Malaysia's 'Giant of Asia' warns of rising instability

NHK

3 hours ago

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says global instability is rising. And few people are better placed to read the warning signs, or see a way forward. Not only did the 99-year-old navigate a host of crises during 24 years and two tenures in power, he also put his country on the path to prosperity—most notably through his "Look East" policy that sought to emulate Japan's work ethic and technological prowess.
NHK World's Kitai Genki recently spoke to Mahathir in Kyoto, where he delivered a powerful cautionary speech.
"We live in a situation where the potential for violence, for wars, is very real. That is why, more than ever, we need to have some ways of diffusing tensions by less violent means.'
Mahathir spoke at Kyoto University in late May. Malaysia's longest-serving leader stepped down in 2020, but remains engaged in global affairs. Mahathir Mohamad, second from left, spoke at Kyoto University. US-China trade relations
NHK World asked the man who steered Malaysia through the Asian financial crisis of the 1990s about US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs.
"I don't think it would be a success. He will have to give up on this high tariff because it cannot be sustained. Many products rely on microchips manufactured in China, India, and Malaysia. Raising import tariffs would make them expensive, limiting production. The people who will have to pay and who will suffer from high cost would be the Americans themselves."
Mahathir believes Washington's attempts to pressure Beijing will ultimately be futile.
"Any idea about defeating China or stopping China is not something that is possible. China will continue to expand, and maybe China will become number one in place of the US." Mahathir Mohamad Trouble in the South China Sea
Ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea are among Mahathir's foremost concerns. He warns that unintended conflicts could start and then escalate beyond control, with devastating consequences.
"War is very destructive. It doesn't achieve anything. Negotiation and peaceful means yield results without damage or loss of life. History shows that victors don't always reap the greatest rewards — countries like Germany and Japan thrived post-war despite their initial defeat." Reforming global governance
Mahathir also voiced frustration about the current state of the United Nations.
"The General Assembly should make decisions, not the Security Council. Right now, decisions from the Assembly can be overridden by a single veto-wielding power within the Security Council." Mahathir Mohamad is interviewed by NHK World's Kitai Genki. 'War is uncivilized'
Even at nearly a century old, Mahathir's message remains unwavering: dialogue, cooperation, and peaceful solutions must take precedence over force.
"I am very much against war, because war is uncivilized. People should not solve problems through killing people. That's not the way to do things. We are people who have the capacity to negotiate. We should negotiate around the table. We should arbitrate, or we should go through a court of law. Malaysia had a problem with Indonesia. It had a problem with the Philippines. It had a problem with Singapore. We went to the World Court and we accepted the findings of the whole court. We lost one, we win one. But if you go to war, even if you achieve victory, many, many people would suffer. People would kill, and money will be lost. Wars bankrupt nations."