Japan and the Philippines have agreed to further deepen their defense collaborations and start talks on an arrangement to protect shared military information in the face of mutual alarm over China’s increasing aggressive actions in the region.

Japan and its allied Philippines agreed to a "strategic dialogue" as a means to bolster defense tech and equipment cooperation, both nations announced Monday.

The two ministers tackled regional security issues, including the maritime situation in the East and South China Seas

Manila is shoring up military partnerships with other nations as it seeks to counter Beijing in a South China Sea dispute.

AN "increasingly severe" security environment has made deepening security ties with the Philippines a necessity, Japan's defense chief said Monday after a meeting with his counterpart in Manila. Speaking as he concluded a two-day visit that included a tour of Philippine air bases,

Japan and the Philippines agreed on Monday to further deepen defence ties in the face of an "increasingly severe" security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, Japanese defence minister Gen Nakatani said on Monday.

Japan and the Philippines agreed on Monday to further deepen defense ties in the face of an “increasingly severe” security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, Japanese defense minister Gen Nakatani said on Monday.

An increasingly complex security environment means Japan and the Philippines need to further enhance their defence cooperation, Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said on Monday ahead of a bilateral meeting in Manila.