The Japanese Prime Minister met with his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim. He began a tour of Southeast Asia, including a visit to Indonesia.
After a meeting at Putrajaya’s Perdana Putra Complex, which houses Anwar’s office, the two leaders said the discussion covers a variety of economic and security issues.
“This bilateral conference is one of the most extensive conferences I have experienced and highlights the seriousness of Prime Minister Isba’s view of Malaysia as a key partner,” Anwar said.
Trade and investment are at the top of the agenda, and Anwar has drawn the long-standing partnership between Japan and the state energy company Petronas, a state energy company in Malaysia, and the importance of Japanese technologies, including carbon capture and storage for its country’s clean energy policy. I’m acknowledging it.
The consultation also saw that the two leaders agreed to deepen their cooperation in education, disaster mitigation and the development of Palestine. Anwar said Malaysia would also call for Japan’s support in the development of non-radioactive rare earth treatment plants.
Before their meeting, Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “Isabi and Anwar are expected to consider the progress of Malaysia-Japan bilateral relations, particularly in trade and investment, personnel development and energy cooperation. “It’s.” They also “exchange opinions on various regional and international issues of common interest, including the Middle East situation.”
Isba’s four-day Southeast Asia tour has been his first bilateral overseas trip since taking office in October, bringing defence and economic ties to the region at the heart of intensifying US-China competition. It is intended to strengthen it.
Isba said his visits to Malaysia and Indonesia, prior to his departure for Malaysia, reflected his desire to protect the government’s attention in Southeast Asia due to increased geopolitical salience. “As the international community becomes increasingly uncertain, Japan wants to place great value on its relationship with Southeast Asia,” he told the press.
He added that Malaysia and Indonesia are both major energy suppliers in Japan. He said his government will “continue to contribute to the prominent economic development seen in both countries.”
Japan is one of the most important economic partners in Malaysia. According to Bernama, it is the fourth-largest foreign investor in Malaysia’s manufacturing sector and the fourth-largest trading partner in the country, with a total trade of $344.1 billion in 2023.
During a briefing before departure, Isba told reporters that “security issues” would also be on the agenda. In fact, defense issues, particularly maritime security cooperation, were key elements of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) agreement signed by Japan and Malaysia in December 2023. Strengthen further cooperation between the Japanese Coast Guard and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. ”
The defense is also expected to control the debate between Isba and Indonesian President Prabowo Subaint, scheduled for Saturday. The two former defense ministers are expected to focus on military cooperation and weapons transfer, and will sign a contract for the provision of Japanese high-speed patrol vessels to Indonesia’s coast guard, according to the Associated Press. .
Earlier this week, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin held Japan’s Nakatani Gen for consultations on the potential sharing of military technology. According to Ministry of Defense spokesman Frega Ferdinand Wenas, “a meaningful technology transfer that will help Indonesia improve military capabilities,” according to state media agency Antara. I hope we can connect.”
The fact that he chose to visit Malaysia and Indonesia for his first bilateral overseas trip suggests his predecessor, Kishida Fumio, desire to maintain the momentum of his recent advances. .
Under Kishida, Tokyo announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam in late 2023, including maritime security cooperation, technology transfer and the provision of Japan’s defense equipment. Japan also promotes security cooperation with the Philippines and simplifies the process necessary to allow troops from Japan and the Philippines to enter the territory of joint movements and other cooperative activities in July last year. I signed the contract.
Japan is often considered a selected partner for Southeast Asian countries. This is large enough to provide substantial economic and security benefits, but not as large as a threat in itself. In this regard, it is the fact that the existence of China’s economic and security presence in regions where many governments share surprises about Beijing’s increasingly belligerent claims to maritime claims in the South and East China Sea. It has been functioning as the counterweight above for a long time.
