The defense ministers of Japan, the United States, Australia and the Philippines agreed Saturday to step up security cooperation in an effort to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific amid China's growing maritime assertiveness in the region. The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the annual Asia Security Summit in Singapore, was the first-ever defense ministerial talks involving all four countries. (From L) Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, Philippine Defense Minister Carlito Galvez and U.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/06/eb7baee7ce7f-urgent-japan-us-australia-philippines-vow-to-boost-defense-cooperation.html

#kyodonews