Manila, Nov. 23 -- Navies of the Philippines and Japan are accelerating security cooperation amid Beijing's growing assertiveness in the West Philippine Sea and wider Indo-Pacific, according to Manila's state media.

Commander of the Philippine Fleet, Rear Adm. Joe Anthony Orbe led a delegation to Japan this week for a string of high-level engagements with the Japan Self-Defence Fleet (JSDF) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), the Philippines News Agency reported on Sunday.

The delegation toured JS Kumano, one of Japan's next-generation frigates.

The visit, according to the report in PNA underscores the Philippine Fleet's accelerating pivot toward like-minded security partners as Manila faces increasingly hostile encounte...