You are right in that within many ASEAN countries like Malaysia, there is still a substantial amount of white worshipping. It's because the rise of China is still a relatively recent thing. It only started to gain traction in the 2000s, so it's like only 20 years+ compared to more than a century of the Western dominated world order. It'll take some time to change minds, but it'll take awhile.There's a recent leak that garnered a lot of noise on social media and an embarrassment of sorts for both China and Malaysia due to their perceived "friendly" ties based on public pronouncements from both leaders of the 2 countries, but most of all to the current P.M. Anwar Ibrahim who's been trying to foster a more friendly and warm relations with China for economic and trade reasons.
I am inclined to believe that Western intelligence agencies have double-agents, moles, spies working on a lot of these ASEAN countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines etc..due to these countries relationship and histories with their colonizers. Most of these countries still have a lasting, warmth, and slavish relationship with western countries due to the perceived and real outlook of western countries economic, military, political, and cultural appeal. To be associated with western countries is still seen as a sign of status and class and China is not immune to this entrenched belief.
ASEAN countries have protested against China and each other over the SCS for a long time. It's usually not a big deal, because these are just protests, and not backed by military aggression. It's the same thing when EU nations protest each other over disputed waters. It's only the West and the Philippines who wants to turn these SCS drama into geopolitical tensions for their own agenda. So we will hear lots of rhetorics, but most of them will just be noises. The PH is more concerning, but so far things have not escalated yet to dangerous levels. Chances are that if they do provoke something with China, they'll be fighting alone.
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