New York City interim police commissioner says federal authorities searched his homes
Marxist Dissanayake leads early vote count in Sri Lanka's presidential election
Trial in daytime ambush of rapper Young Dolph 3 years ago to begin in Memphis
Hezbollah, Israel exchange heavy fire after deadly Israeli strike
Hezbollah fires over 100 rockets across a wider and deeper area of Israel as fears of war mount
Death toll rises to 30 after methane leak causes explosion at eastern Iran coal mine, state TV says
Japan PM hopeful Ishiba sees 'room' for corporate tax hike, Kyodo reports
Southwest Airlines warns staff of 'tough decisions' ahead, Bloomberg reports
GM to lay off about 1,700 workers at Kansas plant
White Sox lose 119th game to tie the AL record as the Padres win 6-2 behind 3 home runs
No. 1 Texas keeps rolling behind Manning and Blue and routs ULM 51-3 in last game before SEC play
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada and Australia, expressing alarm at China's claims over the disputed waters of the South China Sea, on Thursday said they would increase their military and defense industry cooperation.
Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said security in the Indo-Pacific region was being challenged "in a number of significant and difficult ways" and accused Beijing of trying to reshape the international system to advance its own interests.
Blair, speaking after Vancouver talks with Australian counterpart Richard Marles, said the two nations needed to work more closely together to maintain order in the Indo-Pacific.
"We have agreed to pursue closer collaboration by enhancing the interoperability of our armed forces and by deepening our operational cooperation," he told reporters.
The two said they were concerned about what they called Beijing's excessive maritime claims in the South China Sea as well as Chinese military activity around Taiwan.
The Philippines' armed forces and their counterparts from Canada, United States, and Australia this week held joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea.
"Our cooperation is based on seeking to deter. We are absolutely about working with each other so that we can avoid conflict," said Marles, referring to his talks with Blair.
Marles flew to Vancouver from Washington after Wednesday talks in which Australia agreed to begin co-manufacturing guided weapons with the United States next year.
(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Sandra Maler)
