Japan is open to negotiating and concluding an information security agreement with the Philippines, the spokesman for its foreign ministry said yesterday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday that his country and the Philippines would start talks on two proposed defense pacts to further boost their security alliance and would continue to fight aggression in disputed Asian waters in an obvious rebuke of China.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held talks on Tuesday with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in a move to advance security and economic ties between two of Washington's closest Asian allies amid rising Indo-Pacific tensions.