Japan Deploys JSDF Ship and Chinooks to Borneo in First Overseas Firefighting Mission

MEMPAWAH, Indonesia — A Japanese military transport ship arrived on the island of Borneo on Thursday as part of a disaster relief mission to assist Indonesian teams battling extensive wildfires that have produced a toxic haze across the region.

Japan has sent 300 personnel aboard the landing ship JS Kunisaki and deployed three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to Kalimantan. The mission is the first known overseas firefighting deployment by the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF).

Dock workers walk amid the thick haze from forest fires at Kijing Port in Mempawah, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)(AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Operation and Cooperation

Col. Syunji Nakahara, commander of the disaster relief activities, said at a port in Mempawah district that the JSDF will "learn from the Indonesian military's operational experience and work in coordination and cooperation with them, striving to ensure that the Indonesian people can lead stable lives as soon as possible."

Tokyo and Jakarta have also been strengthening defense ties, including discussions about the possible sale of Japan's decommissioned destroyers to Indonesia.

Crew members prepare one of the Chinook helicopters which will be used to help battle forest fires on Kalimantan Island, on the deck of Japanese tank landing ship JS Kunisaki after its arrival at Kijing Port in Mempawah, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)(AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Scale and Impact of the Fires

Indonesia has long struggled with forest and land fires. This year, an intensifying El Niño pattern and a prolonged dry season have worsened conditions, producing thick smoke and toxic haze that have caused regional health concerns.

Smoke has drifted as far as the Philippines—more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) away—and parts of Malaysia have seen air pollution reach emergency levels, prompting officials to declare an emergency last week in a town in Sarawak state on Borneo. The haze has also affected multiple areas on Sumatra, forcing schools to suspend classroom activities. Indonesian authorities report that more than 1.4 million students nationwide have been impacted.

Japanese tank landing ship JS Kunisaki approaches Kijing Port amid the thick haze from forest fires in Mempawah, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)(AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Indonesia's Forestry Ministry recorded more than 202,000 hectares (nearly 500,000 acres) of burned land between January and July—an area almost three times the size of Singapore.

What the JSDF Will Do

The JSDF said the three CH-47 helicopters will begin aerial firefighting operations on Borneo as soon as preparations are complete. Their role is to support Indonesian authorities by reaching fires in terrain that is difficult for ground crews to access and by helping to prevent further damage to communities and ecosystems.

Indonesian firefighting efforts have been bolstered by aircraft and assistance from countries across the region and beyond, including the United States, Russia, Australia, Canada, Ukraine and Japan.

Crew members huddle on the deck of Japanese tank landing ship JS Kunisaki amid haze from wildfires, after its arrival at Kijing Port in Mempawah, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)(AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

"Through these operations, we will dedicate ourselves to supporting the affected people of Indonesia and preventing further damage," the JSDF said in a written statement.

Associated Press reported from Mempawah; Mari Yamaguchi contributed from Tokyo.