Over the past eight years, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has been actively boosting the maritime stability of the Indo-Pacific region through its Mobile Cooperation Team (MCT) programme.
Since its launch in October 2017, the programme has piloted several initiatives to assist Palau, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, amongst others.
In late 2025, MCT conducted inspection training and arresting methods in Vietnam in an effort to train for drug trafficking–related cases.
Meanwhile, in Palau, MCT hosted search and rescue training along with international maritime law workshops under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
With the help of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, these initiatives form part of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy.
Third Country Training Programs also took place in Malaysia thanks to a partnership between Japan and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
The events featured workshops for teaching, technical skills and strategic challenges.
Japan’s role in leveraging maritime capability
The Indo-Pacific Defense FORUM held an interview with special advisor to Japan’s Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies and Parley Policy Initiative founder, Mike Bosack.
Bosack acknowledged Japan’s role in helping the region maintain and bolster its maritime capability through conducting training and law enforcement, further noting the importance of Japan’s efforts in capacity-building.
“It’s part of a whole-of-government approach to FOIP,” he explained.
“It allows Japan to lead in a realm distinct from the military co-operation efforts of partners like the US and Australia, and it helps keep the JCG sharp.”
The JCG has also donated patrol vessels to the Philippines, Maldives and Indonesia in order to assist with training in firefighting, towing and port safety and conducted multilateral exercises with the United States Coast Guard.
“The durable, only way to counter gray-zone activities and violations of international laws, rules and norms is to be able to identify illicit activities and respond in ways that are compliant with international standards,” Bosack added.
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