Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is visiting China this week, giving Beijing another opportunity to dilute the U.S.’s influence in Asia.
The two countries were expected to sign deals including a $13 billion, Chinese-financed rail line connecting Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia’s northeast coast. Malaysia’s New Straits Times newspaper reported late Tuesday that Malaysia would buy four coastal patrol ships from China, quoting Mr. Najib as telling Malaysian media that this was a “landmark decision.”
Mr. Najib met with Premier Li Keqiang Tuesday at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People and was due to meet President Xi Jinping later this week. The countries’ defense ministers, meeting on Monday, expressed a desire to expand cooperation, Chinese state media said.
