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

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, Philippines to enhance military exchanges and strategic dialogue Security ties strengthened amid shared concerns over China’s regional actions Japan, Philippines are key treaty allies of the United States in Asia MANILA — 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