Japan and Philippines Forge Maritime Security Pact Amid Regional Tensions
- Japan and the Philippines forge a historic maritime security pact, sharing oceanographic data to detect suspicious ships amid rising concerns about China's activities in the East and South China Seas.
- This marks the first such agreement between Japan and a Southeast Asian nation, reinforcing cooperation at vital sea lanes, following similar pacts with the United States, France, and Australia.
- Amid a territorial dispute with China over the Spratly Islands, the Philippines strategically strengthens maritime capabilities through the pact to counter security threats.
- The memorandum outlines detailed plans for sharing data on suspicious ships, third-country vessels, disaster observations, and abnormal events, emphasising strict confidentiality measures.
North Korea’s Latest Missile Launch: A New Threat to the US and its Allies?
- In a year marked by its frequent missile launches, North Korea fired another long-range ballistic missile that could strike the US, shortly after testing a short-range one.
- Its neighbours denounced its actions as endangering global peace.
- On Monday, South Korea’s military reported that it had tracked a long-range ballistic missile from the Pyongyang area.
- The missile travelled 1,000km (620 miles) before landing in the East Sea, or the Sea of Japan.
Read more at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/17/south-korea-says-north-fired-short-range-ballistic-missile-into-sea
Japan and Malaysia: $2.8 Million maritime security assistance deal
- As Asian countries look to resist an increasingly aggressive China, Japan and Malaysia inked a security aid arrangement on 16th December- this included a grant of 400 million yen ($2.8 million) to strengthen Malaysia's marine security.
- Japan will provide equipment such as rescue boats and supplies under the official security assistance deal.
