KUALA LUMPUR: Trade and investment negotiations between Malaysia and Taiwan are continuing as usual without any restrictions, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
He said both countries remained in regular contact, including through discussions with embassy representatives on trade and investment cooperation.
Trade relations also continued as usual, with export and import activities between the two sides proceeding without disruption.
“Malaysia has maintained relations with Taiwan for a long time. We have respected the One-China Policy since 1974, but trade with Taiwan continues as usual.
“There are no issues so far regarding trade and Taiwanese investments in Malaysia,” he told
the media after the MySaham Miti mobile application launch today.
Commenting on reports that Taiwan had confirmed its intention to postpone negotiations, Johari dismissed the suggestion, clarifying that the Taiwanese side had only indicated that the matter would be discussed.
He said Malaysia and Taiwan had an agreement signed in 1993, and both parties were prepared to continue discussions on trade and investment.
“They have expressed their willingness to negotiate, and we share the same position.
“As long as I am here, I will continue to support these efforts,” said Johari.
Yesterday, it was reported that Taiwan had confirmed the postponement of bilateral investment negotiations with Malaysia in October following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks on Taiwan during an interview with Al Jazeera in August.
Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei was reported as saying that the decision took into account Taiwan’s sovereignty and economic security, as well as aimed to protect the rights and interests of its investors.
He also described Anwar’s remarks as “unfriendly” and potentially damaging to Taiwanese companies’ confidence in investing in Malaysia.
However, Taiwan expressed its willingness to maintain engagement with Malaysia and hoped the negotiations could resume.
In the Dewan Rakyat today, Anwar also stressed that Malaysia-Taiwan trade and investment relations remained unaffected.
He clarified that the postponed meeting involved the Economic Cooperation Committee, Trade Working Committee and Investment Working Committee, rather than the entirety of bilateral trade and investment negotiations.
He added that the government had already requested the meeting to resume.
In the first nine months of 2026, Malaysia’s exports to Taiwan rose 88 per cent year-on-year to RM116.58 billion, while imports increased 24.2 per cent to RM137.67 billion.
Bilateral trade between the two sides reached RM254.21 billion during the period.