Japan and Vietnam on Tuesday signed a cyber security agreement as the two Asian nations rapidly step up their military ties amid concerns over China’s growing assertiveness. Japan’s defense Minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters that the cyberspace agreement aimed to address a “strong sense of urgency” over activities in the Indo-Pacific region that challenge the existing international order, indicating China without identifying any country by name. Kishi said talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, Phan Van Giang, had taken “defence cooperation between the two countries to a new level.” Japan has in recent years stepped up cyber defense cooperation with the United States, Australia, and other partners, and participated in a NATO cyberspace exercise in April. Japan has also held cyber security talks with Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia.