The Philippines and Japan are looking to further expand defense relations.

This was among the topics discussed during the two nation’s 9th Military-to-Military (MM) dialogue on Oct. 21 in Manila, three years after its last iteration.

The dialogue was co-chaired by Department of National Defense (DND) Assistant Secretary for Strategic Assessments and International Affairs Henry Robinson Jr. and Japan’s Ministry of Defense Director for General for International Affairs Miura Jun.

“On Philippines-Japan defense relations, both sides discussed frameworks that would further enhance military cooperation between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The Philippine side also expressed appreciation for Japan’s capability-building assistance to the AFP,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement Monday night.

Both sides exchanged views on regional security challenges, discussed respective updates on defense policies, and reviewed the overall progress of Philippines-Japan defense cooperation.

On regional security challenges, Robinson shared the DND’s perspective on the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea while Miura shared security updates on the East China Sea and the Korean Peninsula.

Both officials also touched on the security situation in the Euro-Atlantic.

“The meeting ended with a commitment of both countries to further enhance bilateral defense relations,” Andolong said. (PNA)