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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