The Japanese prime minister visited Indonesia and Malaysia, as part of efforts to integrate the Southeast Asian nations into Tokyo’s preparations for a catastrophic US-led war against China.

Indonesia is bolstering its maritime security cooperation with Japan after the two countries held a bilateral meeting that reaffirmed their shared goal of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific amid rising tensions in the region.

Indonesia and India will step up their economic and defense cooperation as the South Asian nation seeks to position itself as a counterbalance to China in the region.