US and Malaysia boost security partnership in South China Sea

Philip J. Heijmans, Bloomberg News on Oct 30, 2025

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The U.S. and Malaysia signed a pact solidifying bilateral defense ties, underscoring a commitment to security in the disputed South China Sea.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth oversaw the signing of the memorandum of understanding with his counterpart on Thursday during a visit to the Southeast Asian nation for a regional defense summit.

The pact is the latest in a series of deals between the two nations. They also announced a trade agreement during President Donald Trump’s visit this week and plan to boost cooperation on critical minerals.

Details of the pact were not disclosed, but the nations renewed an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement and committed to finalize bilateral deals on communications, information sharing, and geospatial matters, according to a joint statement.

The defense pact comes amid simmering tensions in the South China Sea, where China is pressing its claim over nearly all of the disputed waters vital to international trade.

Chinese ships frequently clash with Philippine vessels near disputed shoals, and have been known to shadow Malaysian offshore oil and gas projects where China also claims jurisdiction.

“Grey-zone tactics, such as hydrographic research conducted under the protection of foreign coast guard vessels, threaten sovereignty and are a clear provocation and threat,” Malaysian Minister of Defense Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in the statement.