In response to China’s growing assertiveness, Japan will offer Indonesia two high-speed patrol boats, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on Saturday ( Jan 11 ).
Ishiba made the commitment while traveling to Jakarta, where he met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to discuss a variety of diplomatic problems.
” We agreed on establishing working-level military sessions on our sea security, including on defence technology professional assistance”, Ishiba was quoted as saying in a joint declaration.
” We furthermore agreed to… offer high-speed patrol vessels through Official Security Assistance, which would be our primary with Indonesia”.
He said the two states also agreed to cooperate in decarbonised energy industries, such as thermal electricity, gas, acid, and biofuels.
Ishiba and Malaysia’s premier minister Anwar Ibrahim had meetings in Kuala Lumpur before leaving for Jakarta.
” For our foreign policy, strengthening cooperation with Southeast Asia is one of the biggest objectives”, Ishiba said.
Japan has been strengthening surveillance relations in the area with US support as it fights China.  ,
Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, which has irritated neighbors who claim to cross some of their special economic areas.
The Philippines, which is locked up in regional disputes with Beijing, is now receiving tools and other support from Tokyo.
A crucial defense alliance between the Philippines and Japan, which allows them to deploy soldiers on each other’s ground, was ratified next year.
Ishiba’s second official status visit since taking office in October is to Malaysia and Indonesia.