War in Gaza triggers US hostility in Southeast Asia

Mobilization is great Indonesia And MalaysiaIt has a majority Muslim population, digital identity a slice of watermelon. Revenues for many American companies plummeted after they appeared on social media lists calling for boycotts over their support for Israel. McDonald’s and Burger King They were elected after offering free burgers to their soldiers during the war campaign. Starbucks He is angry because he sued one of the unions in the United States that show support for Palestine. Also Singaporean To captureThe regional leader was punished after its founder’s wife declared herself “totally in love” with Israel, and many users are now filming themselves uninstalling the food delivery app from their phones.

Hatred is concentrated against Israel, but many protesters shouted against Israel because they do not have embassies in Indonesia and Malaysia. end of genocide against the Americans. This is not an unprecedented event. Similar events were recorded after the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, but they did not reach the current enthusiasm.

stop the fire

A sensitive situation for governments Malaysia And IndonesiaIt is as close to the Palestinian cause as Washington, with popular noise on the streets and on social networks. Both of them blame the Israeli occupation for the confusion and are categorical in their statements. “American troops are giving free rein to Israel all over the Middle East. This has reached a level of insanity that allows Israel to give in to Israel.” people are being killed. “This is the height of barbarism,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said at a pro-Palestinian demonstration. The crisis is hitting him at the worst possible moment, and support from the Muslim majority is waning after barely a year in office. Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, He asked his American counterpart at the APEC summit this week: Joe Biden, A ceasefire that will end the “tyranny” in Gaza.

Messages not followed political actions. Internal balance is still possible, but will be complicated if public anger worsens. The bill, which imposes sanctions on those who provide financial aid to Hamas, was approved in the House of Representatives and awaits the green light from the Senate, also threatens harmony with Washington. Indonesia and Malaysia, which maintain ties with the Gaza Government, have resisted pressure to classify Hamas as a terrorist organization and are seen in their countries as a resistance and liberation group against the oppressor. Enver had already predicted that he would not recognize these unilateral sanctions.

The conflict has highlighted opposing sensitivities in a dozen countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Singapore and Thailand, where dozens of deaths occurred in Israel, emphasized that they condemned the Hamas attack. But everyone is worried that the fire in the Middle East will distract the United States, which is already dealing with Ukraine, North Korea and China. The screams come from far away, they intensify donald trump It was removed from the Trans-Pacific Economic Cooperation Agreement, which many governments saw as a lifeline in the storm, and was further highlighted by Biden’s absence at the latest edition of ASEAN. “Growing resentment toward the United States will not help the Biden administration’s three-year effort to repair relations with Southeast Asia and convince them of its long-term commitment to the region’s security and prosperity,” National Expert Zachary Abuza said. War College (Washington).

Sydney Jones, a regional analyst at the Institute for Conflict Policy Analysis in Jakarta, does not believe Indonesia and Malaysia’s pro-Palestinian rhetoric will be enough to change the status quo for now. “Washington needs both, and both governments have significant constituencies that distrust the United States and China,” he says.

hostility with China

Beijing and Washington are eyeing a region that they both have reason to avoid falling into their arms. It differs from the former by its thuggery in territorial disputes and from the latter by the risk that its hostile spiral towards China could lead to a war in which they would be the real victims. In this constant state of affairs, the war in Gaza benefits China, ASEAN’s main trading partner and the constant focus of attention. His persistent defense of Palestine also allows him to emphasize his defense of the Global South against the history of occupation and the double standards of the West.

“I have no doubt that China will try to take advantage of this by reminding governments that the United States has always talked about revitalizing relations but is now more interested in the Middle East and saying it will not be there to defend them. The Chinese will doubt Southeast Asia’s leaders,” Abuza said. “He’s very good at waking you up,” he says.