Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated on Wednesday that Tokyo will provide Malaysia two patrol boats, a move that visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak invited as help to promote stability in the South China Sea.
Najib showed up in Japan on Tuesday on a visit that comes weeks after he visited China for six days in which he consented to purchase 4 Chinese patrol boats in his country’s first substantial defense deal with China.
“Today’s agreement – Japan wants to hand over 2 decommissioned patrol vessels to our maritime enforcement firm – shows the nature of our relationship is now broad-based,” Najib stated.
Malaysia, together with 3 other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei – are amongst the countries contesting territorial claims with China over the South China Sea. China claims almost the whole body of water as its territory.
Najib informed about talks with Abe about this concern, adding: “Malaysia continues to play its part to make sure the South China Sea will be an area of peace and stability, without which we can not accomplish prosperity.”
Discussions likewise included the planned high-speed rail link between Singapore and the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, set to be built by 2026 and with the two neighbors set to settle a bilateral contract in December.
Japan has revealed interest in the task, and Najib said he had ensured Abe that the bidding process would be conducted in a reasonable and transparent way.
