Japan Deploys Military Assets to Borneo to Combat Wildfires and Toxic Haze

Japan’s Self‑Defense Forces launched its first overseas firefighting mission on Thursday, sending 300 crew members aboard the landing ship JS Kunisaki and three CH‑47 helicopters to Kalimantan, Borneo. The operation aims to tackle forest and land fires that have intensified under this year’s El Niño‑driven dry season. The fires are producing toxic haze that has already crossed borders, reaching the Philippines more than 800 km away and triggering an emergency‑level air‑pollution alert in Sarawak, Malaysia. Indonesian officials said the Japanese team will work closely with local forces, learning from their operational experience to restore stability for the affected communities. The deployment also follows growing military cooperation between Japan and Indonesia, including talks over the sale of used Japanese destroyers. The mission represents a concrete step to curb haze‑related health crises in the region.