Faced with challenges from China, Japan and Malaysia "join hands" to promote defense and maritime security cooperation

On November 5, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim agreed to promote bilateral defense and maritime security cooperation, amid China's increasingly assertive military actions in the Asia- Pacific region.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio meets with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim on November 5 in Malaysia. (Source: Kyodo)

Mr. Kishida, visited Malaysia on November 4 on the second stop of a three-day tour that also included the Philippines.

During the talks in Kuala Lumpur, the Japanese leader said he and Mr. Anwar also affirmed cooperation on energy, including ensuring stable supply of liquefied natural gas to Japan.

While tensions remain high between China, Malaysia and several other Southeast Asian nations over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, topics of discussion between the two leaders included a new framework for Japan to provide defense equipment to countries that share values such as democracy and human rights .

Speaking at a joint press conference, referring to the funding program, known as official security assistance (OSA), Mr. Kishida confirmed: "We agreed to accelerate adjustments in the implementation of OSA."

Japan has designated four Asia-Pacific countries - Bangladesh, Fiji, Malaysia and the Philippines - as OSA recipients, earmarking 2 billion yen ($13 million) for the fiscal year through March 2024.

China has built artificial islands with military infrastructure in regional waters in recent years. Beijing has also repeatedly sent coast guard vessels around the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands, which Beijing claims and calls Diaoyu in the East China Sea.

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