KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — Defense leaders from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States met for the fifth time in three years to reaffirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The meeting on November 1 brought together Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Koizumi Shinjiro, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

The leaders expressed concern over China’s destabilizing actions in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, condemning any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.

They emphasized adherence to international law, freedom of navigation and overflight, and recognized the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award as legally binding. They also affirmed support for ASEAN’s central role in regional affairs.

The defense chiefs outlined commitments to focus joint efforts on deterrence and operational readiness, and to enhance coordinated defense cooperation activities. Discussions also covered progress in information-sharing, joint training, and operational coordination among their forces.

They endorsed the framework to establish the Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Cooperation Council and welcomed the Reciprocal Access Agreement between Japan and the Philippines, strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The leaders also welcomed the upcoming BALIKATAN 2026 exercises in the Philippines, involving forces from all four countries to enhance joint preparedness.