Japan, Malaysia Strengthen Bilateral Ties Amid China’s Increasing Assertiveness

Japan, Malaysia Strengthen Bilateral Ties Amid China’s Increasing Assertiveness
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida answers questions from reporters regarding the response to the Omicron COVID variant at his office in Tokyo on Nov. 29, 2021. JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images
Aldgra Fredly
Updated:

Japan and Malaysia have agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and push for “concrete cooperation” between the two countries amid China’s assertive activities in the East and South China Seas.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Malaysian counterpart Ismail Sabri Yaakob exchanged views on regional affairs in a phone call that lasted about 25 minutes on Dec. 2, according to Japan’s Foreign Ministry.