Defense chiefs from Japan, Australia, the Philippines and the US agreed to further expand military cooperation, and while “China” was not uttered by the four officials at their first-ever joint press conference Thursday in Hawaii – Beijing’s growing regional assertiveness was evident top of their agenda.
During the meetings, which saw US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin host Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, Australian defense chief Richard Marles and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro in Honolulu for a series of bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral meetings, the four reiterated need for deepening. ties and building interoperability.
Austin said the four-nation grouping would undertake more joint maritime military exercises, while the US, Japan and Australia would also provide even greater security assistance to the Philippines amid a territorial row with China.
