The defense chiefs of the Philippines, United States, Japan, and Australia on Saturday issued a joint statement deploring China's "dangerous use" of coast guard and militia vessels as territorial tensions continue to rise in the West Philippine Sea.

Defense chiefs from the U.S, Australia, Japan and the Philippines have agreed to increase joint activities, including military exercises, following a quadrilateral meeting on Thursday in Hawaii. U.S.

Defense chiefs from the U.S., Australia, Japan and the Philippines met in Hawaii to deepen cooperation amid concerns over China's activities in the South China Sea.

The defense chiefs of the United States, Australia and Japan denounced growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including their weapons transactions, during their trilateral talks in Hawaii this week,