Malaysia, Philippines: Ethnic Tensions Are at the Center of a Standoff

A recent standoff involving armed Philippine nationals in Malaysia illustrates the region's lingering and at times confusing ethnic and territorial composition. Malaysian security forces are preparing to forcefully deport a group calling itself the Royal Sulu Army, which has occupied a small town in Sabah state for more than two weeks. Manila and Kuala Lumpur have worked together to end the standoff peacefully, but the Royal Sulu Army leader in the Philippines has insisted that they are not leaving even though Kuala Lumpur's deadline for doing so has passed. Should the situation be resolved violently, it could affect the upcoming Malaysian elections and may trigger an uprising by related ethnic militants in the Philippines and Malaysia.