Japan PM Ishiba looks to bolster defence cooperation during visit to Malaysia, Indonesia

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will visit Malaysia and Indonesia from tomorrow, with an eye to bolstering defence ties. He will also be seeking to understand how Putrajaya and Jakarta view conflicts taking place outside the region. This comes on the back of China's growing assertiveness in maritime claims, which are also disputed by some ASEAN countries. This is Mr Ishiba's first visit to Muslim-majority countries since taking office in October. Michiyo Ishida reports.