Manila, Feb. 28 -- The Philippines is exploring ways to further expand its bilateral defense cooperation with Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore, the Department of National Defense (DND) said on Saturday.

The subject was discussed during a meeting between the DND and the three states' defense agencies on the sidelines of the Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue (JPIDD) in Tokyo earlier this week.

The DND said the Philippine delegation, led by Defense Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Marita Yoro, also reviewed capacity-building initiatives and strengthened collaboration on mutual security concerns with the three states.

The Philippines maintains strong defense relations with the three countries, mostly focused on maritime se...