AS PART of efforts to enhance its maritime security capabilities and as Beijing becomes increasingly assertive, Japan will give rescue boats and surveillance drones to Malaysia's military in the next few weeks.
This is due to Malaysia's strategic location in the Straits of Malacca and South China Sea.
The donations are part of Japan's Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme and come at a time when Tokyo becomes more active in international naval procurement and trade.
According to reports in Nikkei Asia, Japan is also in the process of providing Australia with new frigates, while discussions are ongoing with the Philippines to export old warships and new air-defence radar to Manila.
The OSA was introduced in 2023 and provides free non-lethal defence equipment to developing nations.
On December 16, 2023, in Tokyo, Kamikawa Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, signed and exchanged notes for the OSA grant aid.
This was done in the presence of former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
High level of uncertainty
"Regarding the current regional and global security environment, the level of uncertainty remains high, and the international situation is very volatile. "Looking at this Indo-Pacific region, we continue to witness unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force, in clear violation of international law, particularly in the East and South China Seas," Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata told The Vibes.
He said the international community is facing various regional security challenges, and Japan is situated in the most severe and complex security environment.
"In order to protect and promote Japan’s own national interests, it is indispensable for us to make consistent efforts, not only to strengthen our own capacities and roles, but also to proactively foster a peaceful, stable and highly predictable international environment based on the rule of law, through such measures as enhancing the security and deterrence capabilities of like-minded countries," he said.
The rescue boats are scheduled to be delivered to the Malaysian Air Force on Oct 1, while the drones will be handed over on Sept 22. They are provided as part of the OSA programme in 2023 valued at 400 million yen (about RM12 million).
Shikata said by enhancing their security and deterrence capabilities, OSA aims to deepen Japan's security cooperation with those countries, to create a desirable security environment for Japan, and to contribute to maintaining and strengthening regional and international peace and security.
Malaysia chosen due to crucial location
“We chose Malaysia strategically as one of the first four recipient countries of the OSA in 2023. As Malaysia is in a crucial area for Japan, facing the South China Sea and the Malacca Straits, cooperation with Malaysia is indispensable for Japan.
"Japan and Malaysia share a trusted partnership, elevating our bilateral ties to the level of “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” in 2023," he said.
Shikata also pointed out that Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba chose Malaysia as the destination for his first official overseas visit in January, this year.
During the visit, both leaders pledged to continue the enhancement of cooperation in the security area, including bilateral exercises and OSA.
This year, Malaysia is playing an even greater role as chair of ASEAN to address various challenges the region faces, and Japan is strongly supporting Malaysia in exercising its leadership.
The rescue boats will be used for rescue operations and disaster relief, while also supporting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets.
Professor Adam Leong Kok Wey who is the director, Centre for Defence and International Security Studies at the National Defence University of Malaysia who spoke to Nikkei Asia, these assets will enhance the Malaysian Armed Forces capabilities to respond to non-traditional security issues, working jointly with other security and emergency services.
"Japan will benefit from a more peaceful and stable environment in this region which Malaysia supports," stressed Shikata.
China’s claims on the South China Sea
China has claimed almost all of the South China Sea, spanning 3.6 million kilometres, while Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei are also claimants to various parts of the sea.
Beijing had become increasingly aggressive in its actions in the area and recently a Chinese warship ploughed into its own coast guard vessel while chasing a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea.
Japan was also greatly concerned in June when China deployed two aircraft carriers east of the Philippines in a projection of power.
Director of the Maritime Safety and Security Programme at the Tokyo-based National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Yusuke Takagi who spoke to Nikkei Asia, noted that Malaysia is particularly important to Japan's national interests, given its location.
More than 80 per cent of Japan's oil imports and about one third of the world's crude oil pass through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
According to Shikata, through security cooperations with like-minded countries such as OSA and bilateral exercises, Japan has been actively promoting "Free and Open Indo-Pacific," or FOIP.
FOIP, which shares fundamental principles with ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, or AOIP, is to lead the international community towards cooperation rather than division and conflict, based on the rule-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.
"We will continue to enhance our cooperation between Japan and Malaysia based on FOIP’s perspective," he added. - September 15, 2025
