Canberra [Australia], Australia has agreed to boost its security cooperation with the United States, Japan and the Philippines in response to China's increasing aggression in the South China Sea, Voice of America (VOA) reports. China's ambitions in the South China Sea continue to worry Australia, its Indo-Pacific allies and the United States Australia, the United States and Japan agreed to step up military exercises with the Philippines in response, on Friday. Defense officials said the four countries met in Hawaii and declared their commitment to protecting freedom of navigation in the region. Earlier this week, the Philippines accused China of "dangerous maneuvers" and "harassment" after it used water cannons against two Philippine ships during patrol. South China Sea, VOA reported. Last month, Australia, the US and Japan held their first joint naval exercises in the region.Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles stressed that closer ties would enhance security. "There is a strength and a significance in our four countries working together. Our meetings are a very important message to the region and the world about four democracies that are committed to the global rules-based order," he said . According to experts, the increased military cooperation with the Philippines is an effort to counter China's increasing aggression. Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Beijing's regional ambitions are causing growing concern "What you're seeing is concern that China will continue to increase aggression against the Philippines And will force them to support."Acknowledging Chinese sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, which China claims as its territorial waters. This is China taking hostile actions against a sovereign state in international waters." Davis said China's territorial ambitions could have an impact on Australia and the United States, "That would affect Australia because then China could deny our commercial vessels the right to pass through those waters and that would happen." Affect U.S. security," he said. Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have claims in the South China Sea that overlap with each other or China. Additionally, Beijing has refused to recognize a 2016 international arbitration ruling. has refused, which has rejected Beijing's broader claims in the region.Emphasizing that US efforts to boost its security alliances in the Indo-Pacific region are aimed at containing China and threatening stability