Photo/Illutration Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, right, with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during a joint news conference after they held talks at Bogor Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, on Jan. 11 (AP Photo)

BOGOR, Indonesia--Japan and Indonesia agreed to enhance cooperation on maritime security with an eye on China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea over territorial claims.

In a meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto outside Jakarta on Jan. 11, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tokyo will provide a high-speed patrol boat to the Indonesian navy through the Official Security Assistance program.

The two leaders also decided to hold a so-called two-plus-two meeting of foreign and defense ministers by the end of the year, their first since March 2021.

Japan held its inaugural two-plus-two meeting with Indonesia in 2015. It marked the first such security framework with a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“Indonesia is a comprehensive and strategic partner that shares fundamental values and principles with our country,” Ishiba told a joint news conference after the meeting.

Prabowo, who took office in October, called Japan a very important partner for Indonesia, adding that Ishiba’s visit symbolizes the two countries’ commitment to strengthening cooperation in various fields.

Japan expects to counterbalance China’s maritime advances by deepening collaboration with Indonesia, a leading ASEAN member.

Tokyo also aims to serve as a bridge between ASEAN and the United States due to concerns in Southeast Asia over the America-first policy of the incoming Trump administration.

During their talks, Ishiba and Prabowo welcomed the agreement reached between their defense ministers on Jan. 7 to start a bilateral meeting on maritime security between defense officials.

The leaders also confirmed that the two countries will work together on defense equipment, technology cooperation and personnel exchanges.

One option is joint development of a naval vessel based on a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer, according to sources.

On the economic front, the leaders confirmed that the two countries will cooperate on issues related to resources and infrastructure in the context of reducing the carbon footprint in the Asian region.

Indonesia, which advocates an omnidirectional foreign policy, has strong economic ties with China.

The country on Jan. 6 formally joined BRICS, which comprises China, Russia and other emerging economies, according to an announcement by Brazil, chair of the grouping this year.

At the joint news conference, Prabowo said Indonesia hopes to build good relationships with all countries and thus contribute to easing tensions among the world’s major powers.

Ishiba, who met Jan. 10 with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, will return to Japan on Jan. 12.

“In an increasingly uncertain international situation, stronger relations with Southeast Asia are extremely important,” Ishiba said before leaving Jakarta.

“I exchanged views with both leaders on relations with the United States and China as well as on the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and we agreed to continue close communications.”

(This article was compiled from reports by Doni Tani and Naoko Handa.)