The South Pacific country of Cook Islands on Tuesday unveiled the details of a deal with China to boost cooperation on matters including mining seabed minerals, after the pact provoked a rare diplomatic clash with the nation’s chief benefactor, New Zealand, and protests at home.

Japanese officials said senior Taliban representatives were in the capital for talks as part of Tokyo’s efforts to help Afghanistan build a more inclusive political system and protect human rights.

A Chinese navy helicopter flew within 10 feet of a Philippine patrol plane on Tuesday in a disputed area of the South China Sea, prompting the Filipino pilot to warn by radio: “You are flying too close, you are very dangerous.”

North Korea on Tuesday criticized the United States and Asian neighbors for pursuing the “absurd” goal of denuclearizing the North and said it will push to expand its nuclear forces under the direction of its authoritarian leader Kim Jong Un.

F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 conducted flight operations Monday aboard amphibious assault ship USS America sailing in the Philippine Sea.

Singapore’s defense minister said the US under the Trump administration has become unpredictable on issues such as trade but added that the city-state should fare well given its strong security ties and positive trade balance with the world’s biggest economy.

In a joint statement at the White House, the two leaders announced plans to sign a 10-year framework later this year for the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership. It will see ramped up sales of defense systems to New Delhi, including F-35 stealth fighter jets, to reduce India’s dependence on Russian arms.

Potential U.S. adversaries will take note of unprecedented air power drills underway over Guam by 33 American, Australian and Japanese fifth-generation fighters, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general said Friday.

A U.S. service member was driving drunk Thursday when he crashed a vehicle that later exploded on a highway just beyond Kadena Air Base’s fence, according to Japanese police.

Two American veterans of World War II who fought to free the Philippines in 1945 are headed back to help mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Manila.