Japanese and US forces engaged in military exercises between the Philippines and Japan, sinking an old warship with surface-to-ship missiles and angering China.

New Zealand is weighing the purchase of advanced warships to modernize its aging fleet and bolster its defense capability.

Australia's multi-billion-dollar deal with Japan for its future warships could set a template that will help Tokyo rapidly expand defence exports across Asia.

Two Chinese naval vessels sailed between Japan’s southwestern islands in a passage that follows training in the Western Pacific and comes amid heightened tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.

Australia and Japan have signed contracts for the first three of a $6.5 billion fleet of Japanese-designed warships.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Saturday that the two countries had signed contracts for the first three of 11 Mogami-class frigates to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy under a landmark US$7 billion deal.