“We are aware that China is our biggest trading partner, but Malaysia should never put all its eggs in one basket,” he said.

Wong, the MP for Kelana Jaya, issued his cautionary note following a Bernama report quoting Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai as saying that five more ports in Malaysia and China had been included in the China-Malaysia Port Alliance.

The ports are Jing Tang Port and Tianjin Port in China and the Kemaman, Sabah and Kuching ports.

The port alliance is aimed at enhancing cooperation in various disciplines, including port studies, training and apprenticeship, technical assistance, exchange of information, traffic development and the promotion of trade services between ports.

Wong noted that the enhanced cooperation would see three more Malaysian ports added to the ambit of China’s growing influence in a list that already included Kuantan, Melaka, Kuala Linggi and Penang.

Stressing that he was against the idea of opening any more ports for the China trade, he said Malaysia must find the right balance between commerce and national security.

“It will not serve our interests and that of Asean if these China-controlled ports are used as a proxy for some sort of trade war with Singapore and the United States,” he told FMT.

“In fact, China’s free trade interests will be better served if Malaysian ports are seen to be more neutral and commercially driven.”

He also expressed concern that current geopolitical issues over North Korea might spill over into Southeast Asia.

“The hydrogen bomb test conducted by North Korea earlier raised the ante for the United States, and it might resort to military action against North Korea.

“An escalation to military conflict between the US and North Korea will have serious global economic consequences as China, Japan and South Korea will be drawn into a bigger conflict.

“We are a small nation that depends heavily on trade. To excel and survive, we must remain neutral in the coming storm.”