Malaysia's prime minister said he would back China using force to take Taiwan, drawing sharp pushback and putting a spotlight on how Southeast Asian leaders lean toward Beijing.

• Anwar Ibrahim compared Taiwan to a Malaysian state trying to break away, and said he would use force to stop it.
• Asked directly if he would condemn China for attacking Taiwan, he refused, calling unity worth defending.
• IPAC co-founder Luke de Pulford called the remarks flatly wrong and said Anwar needs a basic history lesson.
• De Pulford noted Taiwan has never been ruled by the People's Republic of China, and that most countries follow a "one China policy" that does not accept Beijing's claim over the island.
• The jab that stung most: Malaysia won its own independence from Britain, so its leader might be expected to sympathize with 23 million Taiwanese who do not want Chinese Communist Party rule.

Outlook: Expect more friction between Taiwan's supporters and Southeast Asian governments courting Beijing, with little chance Anwar walks the comments back.