Defense chiefs from Japan, Australia and the United States have pledged to bolster trilateral cooperation and further align their security strategies amid growing tensions with China, Russia and North Korea.

¡°Today, the international community is faced with these severe security environments due to Russia¡¯s aggression against Ukraine, China¡¯s unilateral change of status by force in the South and East China seas, and the remarkable development of North Korea¡¯s nuclear and missile-related technologies, among others,¡± Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada was quoted as saying during the talks in Hawaii on Saturday. ¡°The foundation of the international order has been undermined.¡±

But it was China, in particular, that appeared to loom large at the talks.