Japan and Vietnam upgrade security ties with eye on China

TOKYO/HANOI -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong agreed Monday to work more closely on security, possibly involving Tokyo's new defense aid program, as Hanoi grows more concerned about China's maritime military buildup.

The two sides said they will increase defense-related exchanges and discuss cooperation via Tokyo's Official Security Assistance program, through which Japan gives defense equipment to countries with shared values.