While the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine are ongoing, Southeast Asia has also been impacted by the growing tension between the United States and China.

Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has witnessed the power games for decades and is warning against divisions in the region.

In an interview with NHK, he said, "We don't want to side with China or with the US. We want peace. Because only through peace, can we develop."

Mahathir served as prime minister for 24 years in total and led Malaysia's economic development. The 98-year-old says Southeast Asian countries and Japan should engage in balanced diplomacy.

"Malaysia, ASEAN countries, generally are not taking sides. They don't want to side with the US because China is a very big market for their products. So they want to have good relations with China, and with the US," Mahathir said.

"But Japan supports the US and the US likes to confront against China. That increases tensions in Southeast Asia and in the South China Sea. So we hope that Japan will not be so close to America."

The leaders of the two superpowers had a summit last month. Mahathir sees this as a positive. He said, "We want to see China and the US having normal relations, non-confrontation. And I think the move by President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping is very good because it will reduce tension in Southeast Asia and the South China Sea."

The emerging economies known as the Global South is growing its presence. But there are disparities and conflicting interests between them and developed countries.

Touching on this, Mahathir said, "There is always division. Before, it was east and west. Now it is north and south. There should not be this kind of division. We should have good relations, north and south, east and west."

Mahathir urged all parties to think of ways to resolve divisions and confrontations, not to provoke them.