“Both governments welcomed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between the Japanese Coast Guard and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, affirmed continued naval exercises between their respective fleets, and agreed to accelerate concrete projects under their existing defense equipment and technology transfer framework.”
“A primary instrument driving this regional capacity-building is Japan’s expanding use of Official Security Assistance (OSA). Since 2023, Tokyo has gradually increased its security footprint in Southeast Asia by supporting maritime surveillance and coast guard modernization.”
“Malaysia’s endorsement of expanding OSA cooperation highlights how ASEAN states increasingly view Japan as a stabilizing, non-threatening security partner. Crucially, Tokyo continues to frame this strategy in inclusive terms, repeatedly emphasizing the compatibility of its Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).”
“[…] Demonstrating an appetite for wider minilateral networking, the joint statement even pointed toward expanding cooperation with third-country partners like Australia and France on critical material resilience.”