U.S. Marines and the Japanese Ground Self Defense will join for a bilateral exercise on Japan’s southwest islands, Japanese officials announced on Friday. The III Marine Expeditionary Force and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force will drill in Okinawa and Kyush from Feb.

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Japan would continue to provide development and security assistance to Manila and support for its maritime security

Japan saw scrambles by the Japan Air Self Defense Force decrease for the first three quarters of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 period (Japan’s fiscal year is from Apr. 1 to Mar. 30), down 34 scrambles compared to the same timeframe in FY 2023,

The United States, Australia, India and Japan recommitted to working together on Tuesday, after the first meeting of the China-focused "Quad" grouping's top diplomats since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

MANILA: Japan and the Philippines vowed on Wednesday (Jan 15) to strengthen security cooperation to counter China's actions in key sea trade routes, amid speculation incoming United States President Donald Trump could scale back security commitments in Asia.

Japan and the Philippines plan to convey to President-elect Donald Trump the urgent need for the U.S. to remain committed to upholding the rule of law in an Asian region where China's actions are causing concerns.

China has commissioned a new-generation frigate as competition rises with the U.S. and other regional powers, saying the ship will “play a vital role in enhancing the overall combat effectiveness" of its forces.

Japan, the Philippines and the United States vowed to further deepen cooperation under a trilateral arrangement in the face of rising tensions in Asia's waters, the three countries said following a call among their leaders.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden met virtually on Monday morning Asian time. Marcos' communications office said the leaders "agreed to enhance and deepen economic, maritime and technology cooperation."

Both nations plan to engage Trump's administration and China diplomatically to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

BEIJING (Reuters) - Representatives from China's military will visit Japan in mid-January as agreed by both countries, to enhance mutual "understanding and trust", the Chinese defence ministry said on Monday.

Members of PLA command that oversees the East China Sea, where the neighbours have a territorial dispute, will meet Japanese defence officials.