Greater Japan-Malaysia cooperation is necessary
At the opening of the
National Security Month in Putrajaya on 9 July, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim warned, "In a borderless
world, if we do not have close cooperation with all countries, we will face
problems."
The Prime Minister’s government
is already putting that principle into practice. Earlier that day, Anwar met
with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to discuss trade and security, while
other engagements this year have taken him to talks with India’s Narendra Modi, Bangladesh’s Tarique Rahman, Türkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Japan’s Sanae Takaichi.
This diplomatic outreach
comes at a pivotal moment for Malaysia. As security challenges across the
Indo-Pacific intensify, Malaysia's ability to work closely with trusted
partners will be increasingly important.
Its historic partner,
China, continues to show increasing disregard for
borders and rules in the Indo-Pacific. In 2025, the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG)
spent 261
calendar days in the northeastern area of Malaysia's
Exclusive Economic Zone. On
21 June this year, the Philippines warned of heightened Chinese
activity around Scarborough Shoal, a disputed South China Sea atoll, prompting
fears that Beijing will seize it permanently.
To guarantee its
security, Malaysia is right to seek closer cooperation with partners that share
its commitment to the rule of law, freedom of navigation, and free trade. Among
the relationships Prime Minister Anwar has strengthened through bilateral
engagement this year, Japan stands out as the most natural and consequential
partner.
During Prime Minister
Anwar’s visit to Tokyo in June, the two countries cemented existing commercial
ties, agreeing to work together under
the “POWERR Asia” initiative to strengthen energy and resource security.
During the same visit, Malaysian
state energy firm Petronas also announced that it will supply JERA,
Japan's biggest power generator, with 2 million metric tons of liquefied
natural gas (LNG) per year for 20 years.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
described the deal aptly, explaining that "cooperation with Malaysia, a
stable supplier of LNG to Japan, is becoming increasingly important."
Japan and Malaysia are
also collaborating on rare earths and critical minerals. China’s restriction of
Japan’s access to its rare earths has presented difficulties for Tokyo’s rare earth
magnet manufacturers, which are overwhelmingly reliant on Chinese exports.
Japan understandably wants to diversify its supply.
In June this year,
Takaichi announced the two countries would
work together to deepen cooperation on critical minerals supply. Malaysia is
home to one of the biggest rare earths processing plants outside of China, providing
a valuable commercial opportunity for both Tokyo and Putrajaya.
While deepened energy
and resource cooperation are integral to improving resilience and security,
neither country can ignore that the international order requires more. Improved
defence capabilities are now crucial.
The US has called for Asian partners to increase their defence spending,
and China’s assertive behaviour in the region is forcing Indo-Pacific nations’
hands.
Tokyo has committed over
¥9 trillion (RM226.1 billion) for 2026’s defence budget and confirmed that it will
revise its “Three Strategic Documents”, which guide the country’s national
security policy.
The updated documents
are expected to address new forms of warfare, including the use of unmanned
systems and artificial intelligence, modernising its Self-Defence Forces so they
can operate effectively in an evolving threat landscape.
The revisions are also
expected to highlight the importance of protecting Sea Lines of Communication
(SLOCs) to ensure the continued flow of international trade, which is crucial
for the prosperity of both Japan and Malaysia.
Significantly, Tokyo also
removed restrictions on foreign defence transfers, enabling the export of
lethal weapons to countries that hold Equipment and Technology Transfer
Agreements (ETTAs). Malaysia holds an ETTA and stands to benefit, providing
further opportunities for collaboration with Japan.
Malaysia has also
responded to the worsening security environment. Prime Minister Anwar has
deepened the government’s focus on cybersecurity, and Putrajaya announced that it will install a
new air defence radar in Pulau Layang-Layang by 2029, enhancing its
surveillance capabilities in the South China Sea.
Malaysia is also pursuing asymmetrical warfare
capabilities, focusing on low-cost, mass-produced weapons like drones and
rockets, while not caving to US demands to increase defence spending to 3.5% of
GDP.
In September 2025, Japan
supplied Malaysia with 14
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and seven rescue boats under its Official
Security Assistance (OSA) programme.
Recent energy agreements
and Prime Minister Anwar’s visit to Tokyo clearly show that Japan-Malaysia cooperation
is growing. But the threat to the status quo is unprecedented.
In response, Tokyo and Putrajaya must deepen collaboration, placing a greater emphasis on security, while further bolstering commercial ties.
26.07.2026
Kuala Lumpur.
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