Defence diplomacy the best option for Malaysia

Photo: Xinhua via AP

 CHINA’S Victory Parade on Sept 3 (pic) was more than pageantry; it was a warning shot about the future of war. With cyber, space and information warfare now centre stage, Malaysia must turn to its greatest strength – defence diplomacy.

Our ability to build trust, balance powers and shape regional security will determine whether South-east Asia remains stable amid intensifying rivalry.

The parade held in Beijing was more than a spectacle of power. It was a statement, a declaration that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is no longer simply modernising; it is also redefining warfare itself.

For Malaysia and Asean, the lesson is unmistakable – the battlefield of tomorrow will extend far beyond land, sea and air. It will be fought in cyberspace, outer space and the invisible realm of information.

The response must not be passivity but strategy and, above all, defence diplomacy.

For the first time, China showcased three new branches. The Information Support Force, the Cyberspace Force, and the Aerospace Force. These are not symbolic formations.

They signal the elevation of data and algorithms, satellites and electronic warfare to the same status as tanks, ships and aircraft.

China’s message is clear; victory will belong to those who dominate information, not just territory. It is a pivot from platform-centric power to information-centric warfare, an approach that mirrors Nato and US doctrines of multi-domain operations.

Military parades are theatre, but in Beijing theatre is strategy. To its people, China portrays: “We are secure and advanced.” To Washington, it signals: “We can fight across every domain.”

To its neighbours, the message is unmistakable: “We are no longer only a regional power; we are a global power.”

Malaysia can draw at least three key lessons from this signal. First, cyber and space resilience must become national priorities. Our financial systems, communications and power grids remain exposed to sophisticated cyberattacks.

Satellites and networks are potential first targets in any conflict. The upcoming Second Phase of Defence White Paper (2026 – 2030) must treat cyber and space security as essential pillars of national defence.

Second, strategic balancing has become a non-negotiable requirement.

Malaysia cannot afford to be ensnared in a great power rivalry, but we also cannot afford to remain silent. Defence diplomacy has emerged as a fundamental strategy. Engaging China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia and others is the instrument that protects our sovereignty and Asean’s neutrality.

Third, innovation in defence is an urgent imperative. The National Defence Industry Policy (DIPN) and Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP) must prioritise dual-use technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, cybersecurity solutions and satellite applications. Without innovation, resilience will remain out of reach.

The lesson from Beijing is not that Malaysia should embark on an arms race. It is that we must strengthen defence diplomacy as the first line of security. Defence diplomacy is about building trust with partners, engaging competitors with clarity, and using dialogue to prevent miscalculation.

It means engaging in joint exercises, officer exchanges, technology collaboration and transparent communication.

For our country, it also means positioning ourselves as a bridge, a country trusted enough to convene conversations between rivals, but firm enough to defend our national interests.

China’s parade revealed a military ready to fight across every domain. But Malaysia’s strength does not lie in matching missile for missile. Our strength lies in building coalitions, shaping norms and leading through diplomacy.

The real contest of this century is not only about who parades the largest arsenal but who builds the most resilient, cooperative and stable security architecture. That is the contest where Malaysia, through defence diplomacy, must lead.

RAEISS ILMY RAMLY Dengkil, Selangor

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Apple warns all iPhone users to delete and ignore these messages right away

 

Do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other assets to people you do not know or have met only online or over the phone. — Pixabay

Apple says iPhone users need to continue to use caution as an ongoing wave of scams continues to target users, but also says some help should be coming soon. As part of a recent warning, the tech giant says there are a handful of messages that should be ignored and deleted immediately by users, Forbes reports.

The scam messages, known as “smishing,” have drawn the attention of tech companies and the FBI in recent years. The scam messages can include claims of unpaid road tolls, undelivered packages and/or claims of traffic offences. The messages will often include a link and wording that indicates financial payments are necessary to solve the issue.

However, the messages are really intended for the sender to gain access to sensitive and private information stored on your device, which can include financial information. When the target clicks the fake link in the message, it can open the phone up for access by the sender.

While it has yet to be released, Apple is expected to unveil an update to its messages app when it releases the iOS 26 update. That update is expected to be available later this month and will be available for download for all iPhone users. An exact release date has not been announced. 

As part of the update, 9to5Mac reports that all text messages will be split into four categories: messages, unknown senders, spam, and recently deleted. The messages folder will contain messages from known users, while the recently deleted folder is self-explanatory. However, the spam and unknown senders folders are where the help comes in.

Messages that are filtered into either of those categories will not trigger any sort of alert for users. Instead, users will have to look through those folders to see if they have any missed messages.

The biggest line of defence comes in the spam folder. Users will not be able to click links or reply to messages directed to the spam folder. Instead, users will have to manually go into the message and move it to the dedicated messages folder. This adds a layer of protection by not allowing the user to immediately fall for what could be a scam.

Users will have an option for messages that end up in the unknown folder to be labeled “Mark as Known” to move trusted contacts to their regular messages folder.

Users will have the option to turn off the automatic spam and unknown senders filtering.

And while the update will be welcomed for many iPhone users, the FBI continues to offer the following advice to avoid being scammed by fake messages:

– Never share sensitive information or an associate’s contact information with people you have met only online or over the phone. If contacted by someone you know well via a new platform or phone number, verify the new contact information through a previously confirmed platform or trusted source.

– Do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other assets to people you do not know or have met only online or over the phone. If someone you know (or an associate of someone you know) requests that you send money or cryptocurrency, independently confirm contact information prior to taking action. Also, critically evaluate the context and plausibility of the request.

– Do not click on any links in an email or text message until you independently confirm the sender’s identity.

– Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment, click on links in messages, or download applications at the request of or from someone you have not verified.

– Set up two-factor (or multi-factor) authentication on any account that allows it, and never disable it. Actors may use social engineering techniques to convince you to disclose a two-factor authentication code, which allows the actor to compromise and take over accounts. Never provide a two-factor code to anyone over email, SMS/MMS text message or encrypted messaging application.

– Create a secret word or phrase with your family members to verify their identities. – mlive.com/Tribune News Service

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How US is eroding its own financial power with a crisis of trust in the dollar

Once hailed as the bedrock of global finance, the US dollar now teeters on the precipice of a crisis of trust. The era of "dollar exceptionalism," where the currency stood invincible, is rapidly crumbling under the weight of Washington's own missteps, which have continuously pushed the world to look for alternatives.

A careful examination of the dollar from the perspective of currency's four basic functions, namely world currency, stores of value, payment and circulation, reveals a startling reality.

From "dollar privilege" to "global enemy"

The US dollar is being pulled into a crisis of trust by its very own mastermind. Bert Flossbach, co-founder and chief investment officer of Germany's largest independent asset management firm, Flossbach von Storch, said: "The US government's chaotic tariff policy has undermined the dollar's safe haven status."

At the heart of the dollar's fall is America's weaponization of its financial system. Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, Western countries froze $300 billion in Russian reserves and expelled Russia financial institutions from the SWIFT system. These drastic measures, intended to crush adversaries, instead triggered a mass exodus from the dollar.

Many countries have accelerated efforts to de-dollarize. Even Saudi Arabia, long the guardian of the oil-dollar nexus, has started accepting other currencies for oil transactions.

In one fell swoop, the very weapon the US used to maintain its financial dominance has turned into its Achilles' heel, splintering the global financial system and hastening the decline of the dollar.

From "safe assets" to "devaluation traps"

The US dollar's stability once rested on two pillars: a robust US economy and the nation's unwavering commitment to its credit. But today, both foundations are crumbling. The US national debt has soared past $36 trillion, with debt-to-GDP ratios hitting nearly 120 percent. The Federal Reserve's response has been to print more money, fueling inflation while simultaneously weakening the dollar.

The consequences are already evident. Countries that once trusted US debt now find themselves trapped in US dollar devaluation, even traditional allies like Japan and Saudi Arabia are offloading their stakes in American debt. Worse yet, the exportation of US inflation to emerging economies, through the "dollar tidal wave" has pushed countries like Argentina and Egypt to the brink of financial bankruptcy, igniting a worldwide movement away from dollar-based reserves.

In short, the American currency has become a ticking time bomb and a "devaluation trap" rather than a safe store of value.

From "everywhere" to "restricted"

The dollar's omnipresence in global trade is retreating. America's control over the SWIFT payment system, once a crucial artery for cross-border transactions, is not as reliable as it once was. Alternatives have emerged: China's CIPS system, Russia's SPFS and the EU's INSTEX are facilitating cross-border transactions without relying on US dollars.

The most significant blow, however, may come from the "petrodollar" system. For decades, oil trading has been anchored in US dollars, cementing its dominance. But countries like Iran, Venezuela, and even the UAE are shifting toward the acceptance of other currencies for oil transactions. This transformation could be the death knell for the dollar's privileged position in the global economy.

On top of this, the rise of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) is set to further undermine the dollar's supremacy. As countries develop their own digital currencies and enter into cross-border alliances, the dollar's role as the global middleman in trade could be rendered obsolete sooner or later.

America's self-inflicted wounds

While Washington may feel emboldened by its ability to weaponize the financial system, the consequences will ultimately be self-destructive. For one thing, the erosion of trust in US debt will raise borrowing costs for the federal government, exacerbating the already crippling national debt. Secondly, the decline of the dollar as the world's reserve currency will shrink US income from "seigniorage," the revenue generated by printing money. 

For another, as the dollar's dominance erodes, America's geopolitical influence will fade. The loss of its financial leverage means that Washington's ability to impose sanctions or exert pressure on nations will diminish, weakening its role as the global leader.

The message is clear: The world no longer wants a single currency, particularly one that is the symbol of hegemony and is increasingly wielded as a tool of coercion.

The future belongs to a more diversified monetary system: where multiple currencies, including the euro, Chinese yuan, and potentially even gold or digital currencies, will all play a larger role. This shift may be uncomfortable for America, but it is in line with the trend of history.

The dollar's downfall should be a wake-up call for the US. If Washington continues down its current path, it risks turning itself into an isolated financial island, cut off from the very system it once cultivated and ruled.

The time has come for America to take a more collaborative, less confrontational approach, or risk witnessing its global influence slip away.

The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Xinhua News, Global Times, China Daily, CGTN etc. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn 

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SCO pushing past US dominance

Russian President Vladimir Putin, from left, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin, China, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (Suo Takekuma/Pool Photo via AP)

Xi and Putin rally Global South at Tianjin summit for a multipolar world order

 Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin pressed their vision at a regional summit for a new global security and economic order that prioritises the “Global South”, in a direct challenge to the United States.

Xi was hosting more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries at a two-day summit in the nor­thern Chinese port city of Tianjin of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The SCO must “promote the democratisation of international relations and enhance representation of developing countries,” Xi said in a speech yesterday, adding that at a time of turbulence, “global governance has reached a new crossroads”.

“We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics, and practise true multilateralism,” he said in a veiled attack on the current US-dominated world order.

However, Xi did not set out any concrete policies in what he called his “Global Governance Initiative” – the latest in a series of policy frameworks from Beijing that analysts say are mainly geared to promoting China’s global leadership role.

Earlier, Xi pushed for more inclusive economic globalisation amid the upheaval caused by US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, touting the SCO’s “mega-scale market” and vast economic opportunities in fields including energy and science.

Trump’s tariff war has disproportionately affected developing economies such as India, whose exports were hit with a 50% levy last week.

Putin, whose country has forged even closer economic and security ties with China amid the fallout from the Ukraine war, said the SCO had revived “genuine multilateralism”, with national currencies increasingly used in mutual settlements.

“This, in turn, lays the political and socio-economic groundwork for the formation of a new system of stability and security in Eurasia,” Putin said.

“This security system, unlike Euro-centric and Euro-Atlantic models, would genuinely consider the interests of a broad range of countries, be truly balanced, and would not allow one country to ensure its own security at the expense of others.”

Xi called for the creation of a new SCO development bank, in what would be a major step towards the bloc’s long-held aspiration of developing an alternative payment system or common currency that circumvents the US dollar.

Beijing will provide two billion yuan (RM1.18bil) of free aid to member states this year and a further 10 billion yuan (RM5.9bil) of loans to an SCO banking consortium, the Chinese leader said.

China will also build an artificial intelligence cooperation centre for SCO nations, which are also invited to participate in China’s lunar research station, Xi added.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting on Sunday, United Nations secretary-­general Anto­nio Guterres said China played a “fundamental” role in upholding global multilateralism.

Others attending the Tianjin summit include Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders from Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia and South-East Asia.

The security-focused SCO, which began as a group of six Eurasian nations, has expanded to 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer countries in recent years.

Modi was among the leaders from southern and central Asia and the Middle East attending the Tianjin summit.

Beijing has used the summit as an opportunity to mend ties with New Delhi.

Modi, visiting China for the first time in seven years, and Xi both agreed on Sunday that their countries are development partners, not rivals, and discussed ways to improve trade ties. — Reuter

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Global power converge in Tianjin: SCO summit 

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, from left, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin, China, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (Suo Takekuma/Pool Photo via AP)

 Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin pressed their vision at a regional summit for a new global security and economic order that prioritises the “Global South”, in a direct challenge to the United States.

Xi was hosting more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries at a two-day summit in the nor­thern Chinese port city of Tianjin of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The SCO must “promote the democratisation of international relations and enhance representation of developing countries,” Xi said in a speech yesterday, adding that at a time of turbulence, “global governance has reached a new crossroads”.

“We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics, and practise true multilateralism,” he said in a veiled attack on the current US-dominated world order.

However, Xi did not set out any concrete policies in what he called his “Global Governance Initiative” – the latest in a series of policy frameworks from Beijing that analysts say are mainly geared to promoting China’s global leadership role.

Earlier, Xi pushed for more inclusive economic globalisation amid the upheaval caused by US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, touting the SCO’s “mega-scale market” and vast economic opportunities in fields including energy and science.

Trump’s tariff war has disproportionately affected developing economies such as India, whose exports were hit with a 50% levy last week.

Putin, whose country has forged even closer economic and security ties with China amid the fallout from the Ukraine war, said the SCO had revived “genuine multilateralism”, with national currencies increasingly used in mutual settlements.

“This, in turn, lays the political and socio-economic groundwork for the formation of a new system of stability and security in Eurasia,” Putin said.

“This security system, unlike Euro-centric and Euro-Atlantic models, would genuinely consider the interests of a broad range of countries, be truly balanced, and would not allow one country to ensure its own security at the expense of others.”

Xi called for the creation of a new SCO development bank, in what would be a major step towards the bloc’s long-held aspiration of developing an alternative payment system or common currency that circumvents the US dollar.

Beijing will provide two billion yuan (RM1.18bil) of free aid to member states this year and a further 10 billion yuan (RM5.9bil) of loans to an SCO banking consortium, the Chinese leader said.

China will also build an artificial intelligence cooperation centre for SCO nations, which are also invited to participate in China’s lunar research station, Xi added.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting on Sunday, United Nations secretary-­general Anto­nio Guterres said China played a “fundamental” role in upholding global multilateralism.

Others attending the Tianjin summit include Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders from Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia and South-East Asia.

The security-focused SCO, which began as a group of six Eurasian nations, has expanded to 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer countries in recent years.

Modi was among the leaders from southern and central Asia and the Middle East attending the Tianjin summit.

Beijing has used the summit as an opportunity to mend ties with New Delhi.

Modi, visiting China for the first time in seven years, and Xi both agreed on Sunday that their countries are development partners, not rivals, and discussed ways to improve trade ties. — Reuter

 Related posts:

Global power converge in Tianjin: SCO summit