US, Japan, Australia emphasize cooperation to support Philippines’ defense priorities

​​​​​​​By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - Defense chiefs of the US, Japan and Australia emphasized cooperation Saturday to support the defense priorities of the Philippines.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met on the sidelines of the key annual security and defense forum, Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore.

"The defense leaders expressed continued serious concern about China's destabilizing actions in the East China Sea (ECS) and the South China Sea (SCS) and any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion," said a joint statement by the US Department of Defense, adding that they also emphasized the significance of the "central role of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the ASEAN-led regional architecture in ensuring security and stability" in the region.

The four defense chiefs underscored the importance of cooperation on four points, including enhancing security cooperation by "aligning their efforts, including infrastructure investments, to support Philippine defense priorities and a free and open Indo-Pacific," and facilitating greater "information-sharing to establish a common operating picture."

Australia and Japan intend to "undertake bilateral discussions" for a military information agreement with the Philippines after the US agreed to one with Manila.

The sides underscored "jointly investing in the Philippines' cybersecurity and resilience for defense, including through existing defense exercises and trainings" and "operational collaboration and synchronization in the Indo-Pacific region, including in the East China Sea and South China Sea, for greater deterrence, peace, and security."