Malaysia's prime minister endorsed the idea of China using force against Taiwan, drawing anger at home and abroad, and it is bad news for Taiwan's standing in Southeast Asia.

• Anwar Ibrahim told Al Jazeera that Taiwan is part of China, and said he would use force too if a Malaysian state tried to break away.
• Malaysians mocked him online, asking when he plans to invade Singapore and saying he does not understand neutrality.
• The likely motive is domestic: his coalition lost three straight state elections, and his approval among Malay voters has slid behind several rivals.
• Anti-Western talk and praise from Beijing are cheap ways to win votes, since Taiwanese people cannot vote in Malaysia.
• The sting is that Anwar was once a jailed dissident freed by public pressure, and now trades away someone else's self-determination.

Outlook: With a general election expected as early as next year, expect more hard pro-Beijing rhetoric from Anwar as he fights to keep his job.