Najib Tun Razak was elected as Malaysia’s Prime Minister in early 2009. Taking office that April amid global turmoil and chaos, Najib’s first official visit was to Beijing in early June. His father, also Malaysia’s Prime Minister, had been the first among Asian nations to open formal diplomatic relations with China thirty-five years before. Celebrating the milestone might’ve been the proposed purpose behind the state call, but that’s not what anyone was talking about. The invitation was extended at the behest of the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao. At the top of their agenda, besides the official festivities, was a ... (full story)