Balabac and the price of strategic complacency

Balabac Island, situated just 50km north of Sabah, is a Philippine military facility under Philippine control. The Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United States covers nine locations, including Balabac. This has led to discussions about Malaysia's strategic response to military developments on the island.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim highlighted Balabac's proximity to Sabah and the Philippines' longstanding claim over the state in his remarks. The issue should not be dismissed merely because of the current good relations between the Philippines and Malaysia. The complexity of the regional security environment and the evolving nature of alliances necessitate a different approach to defence policy.

While good relations are valuable, they cannot substitute for defence preparedness. Military capabilities take years to build, requiring sustained investment, training, maintenance, and institutional capacity. As military capabilities and political intentions are separate matters, friendship and diplomacy remain crucial. However, defense is also an insurance policy, and prudent countries should not wait for a crisis before determining their need for it.

Malaysia's strategic environment is undergoing a shift with the strengthening of defence ties between the Philippines and the United States, China's expanding maritime and military capabilities, and other Southeast Asian nations modernising their armed forces. Malaysia should continue strengthening diplomatic relations and maintaining open military-to-military communication with its neighbours.

However, diplomacy should be backed by credible national capability, focusing on areas such as maritime domain awareness, air surveillance, naval and air-force readiness, unmanned systems, and the defence of Sabah and Sarawak.