Manila, Feb. 17 -- The Philippine and Japan's National Security Advisers (NSA) on Monday reiterated their commitment to "freedom of navigation and international law in the South China Sea and East China Sea".

Philippines' NSA Eduardo Ano spoke over the phone with his Japanese counterpart, Okano Masataka, on Monday, the National Security Council (NSC) said in a statement.

"They reaffirmed their commitment to freedom of navigation and international law in the South China Sea and East China Sea, as well as the importance of upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific, and international rules-based order," it said.

The two officials also discussed areas of cooperation to address destabilizing actions in the "West Philippine Sea/South China Sea....