Defense leaders from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States recently met in Kuala Lumpur to reaffirm their shared commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific amid growing regional tensions.

The gathering of 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 United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Malaysia on 2 November marks the fifth high-level defense meeting among the four nations in the past three years. 

These defense leaders expressed serious concern over China’s “destabilizing actions” in the East and South China Seas. 

They reaffirmed opposition to any unilateral efforts to alter the status quo through force or coercion and emphasized adherence to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The leaders also underscored that the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award remains final and legally binding.

The defense chiefs likewise pledged to strengthen regional peace and stability through enhanced deterrence and operational readiness, as well as coordinated defense cooperation. They discussed progress on information-sharing, joint training, and operational coordination to ensure seamless collaboration among their forces.

A key initiative highlighted was the framework to establish the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Cooperation Council, aimed at aligning policy and operational objectives across the four nations. 

The leaders also welcomed the entry into force of the Reciprocal Access Agreement between Japan and the Philippines, which enables closer bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation.

The upcoming BALIKATAN 2026 exercises in the Philippines were also noted as a platform for joint preparedness and interoperability among the four countries’ military forces.

Teodoro emphasized that the meetings and joint activities reflect the countries’ shared determination to uphold regional stability and the central role of ASEAN in shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific.