On April 15, DM Kishi had a VTC with DM Ismail Sabri of Malaysia. They exchanged views on defense cooperation and regional issues, and agreed to further promote defense cooperation and exchanges between Japan and Malaysia.
JMSDF carried out a goodwill exercise with the Malaysian Navy on April 2, which enhances defense capabilities and strengthens mutual coordination. JMOD/SDF will continue such a training in the Indo-Pacific region with other countries.
(Press Release)
April 15, 2021
Japan Ministry of Defense
Japan-Malaysia Defense Ministers’ Video Teleconference
On April 15, 2021, Minister KISHI held a video teleconference with Senior Minister of Defence of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob.
1 Minister Kishi and Minister Ismail Sabri exchanged views on the regional security issues, including the East China Sea and the South China Sea in light of the current events occurring in the region. Minister Kishi underscored the requirement to uphold and reinforce the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”, expressed serious concerns over China’s Coast Guard Law, which entered into force on February 1, and also stated Japan’s intent to reinforce within the international community its steadfast opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo. The two ministers confirmed the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight and reaffirmed the critical need for observing international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Regarding the responding measures to North Korea, Minister Kishi condemned the launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea on 25th last month, which violates UNSC resolutions and expressed the view that they pose a serious challenge to the international community as a whole.
In addition, they discussed the situation in Myanmar and noted their deep concerns over the current situation. They affirmed their intent to cooperate closely on this matter.
2 The two ministers also exchanged views on bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges. They concurred that Japan and Malaysia will further enhance defense cooperation and exchanges, including promoting defense equipment and technology cooperation, holding Military-to-Military Dialogue, promoting cooperation in the field of HA/DR such as countermeasures to COVID-19 and continuing service-to-service cooperation such as conducting port calls.
3 In this context, the two ministers also concurred in proactively promoting defense cooperation and exchanges, while maintaining close communication between respective defense authorities.
