Chinese Investment in Malaysia: COVID-19, Democracy and Beyond

Abstract China's rising influence in parts of the developing world has raised concerns among US and its allies. In wake COVID-19 outbreak, provision vaccines aid to countries Global South have further heightened anxieties over potential for diffusion ideals. investments are thought promote perspectives rule law democracy, posing a challenge global dominance Western liberal democratic values. Nonetheless, few studies examined how ideals may occur through infrastructure projects young democracies such as Malaysia whose governance legal system significantly outperform according various indexes. This article investigates increasing engagement with China reasons this trend against backdrop Malaysia's political institutions inherited from West. It considers like vulnerable influence, intentional or unintentional, investment. The analysis sheds light on mechanisms that give rise vulnerability, exploring electoral facilitate amplify impact Chinese investment, broader implications. Shared tacit understandings, instrumentality nexus between state business, which cross-country cooperation also examined.