Over the past week, Sino-Malaysian relations have been rocked by allegations that China’s envoy had attempted to interfere in the Southeast Asian state’s internal affairs. In truth, this is just the latest in a string of worrying incidents that clearly demonstrate how China is willing to use its influence to manipulate its “special relationship” with Malaysia, even at the latter’s expense. ‘Chinese interference’ is a trigger word for Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country with a significant ethnic Chinese minority. Huang then went on to lobby Ong Ka Ting, Malaysia’s special envoy for China, and several other ministers, who reportedly let him off the hook. Second, China’s brazen use of its influence to successfully circumvent diplomatic protocol at Malaysia’s expense should serve as a lesson.