Japan, the US and Australia have agreed to strengthen defense cooperation and intensify joint exercises, including air force exercises using F-35 fighter jets, Report informs referring to TASS.

According to the joint statement of the parties, the sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of defense and expand the scale of joint exercises. In particular, the parties agreed to conduct joint exercises in Australia, in which F-35s will be involved.

It is also emphasized that the defense ministers of the three states during the talks expressed serious concern about the situation in the South China and East China Seas.