CANBERRA, Australia — Japan will send troops for joint training with U.S. Marines and Australian forces in northern Australia, the countries’ defense ministers said Sunday, as they expressed concern about confrontations with China’s increasingly assertive military.

Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles hosted his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Lloyd Austin and Nakatani Gen for talks in Darwin.

The ministers announced trilateral amphibious training between Australia, Japan and the U.S. Marine rotational force in northern Australia from 2025. Australia will also join Exercise Orient Shield in Japan for the first time next year.

A joint statement reiterated “serious concern” about destabilizing actions in the East and South China seas including “dangerous conduct” by the Chinese military against Philippine and other vessels from the region. China claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety.

The ministers also urged the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

— The Associated Press