Malaysia can boost defence cooperation with China, says expert

Free Malaysia Today

However, Jamil Ghani says the country must tread carefully to avoid unsettling its other security partners.   Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/04/15/malaysia-can-boost-defence-cooperation-with-china-says-expert/   Laporan Lanjut:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2025/04/15/malaysia-boleh-tingkat-kerjasama-pertahanan-dengan-china-kata-pakar/   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTNews #Malaysia #China #Cooperation

Transcript

00:00Malaysia has the potential to establish a modest but meaningful foundation for enhancing bilateral defense cooperation with China

00:09This is what defense expert Jamil Ghani told FMT, adding that this collaboration would need to be carefully managed

00:17to avoid unsettling Malaysia's ties with other security partners

00:21He said any cooperation would likely need to fall within narrow boundaries

00:25such as joint training on humanitarian assistance, anti-piracy patrols in non-contested waters or cyber defense collaboration

00:33However, Jamil said these dynamics would need to be managed carefully

00:37to avoid undermining Malaysia's relationships with its five power defense arrangements allies, the US and other ASEAN members

00:45The FPDA is a defensive alliance among five Commonwealth nations

00:50Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom

00:54Jamil said optics are important as Malaysia's postures towards China in defense matters

01:00must be shaped by its broader strategic identity as a non-aligned middle power hedger

01:06Meanwhile, Thomas Daniel from the Institute of Strategic and International Studies

01:11acknowledged that China's continued pressure in Malaysia's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea remains a major concern

01:18He said China's presence is likely to hinder deeper defense cooperation with Malaysia

01:23unless perceptions of the threat it poses change

01:27Attach Abuse, FMT

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