India, Japan hold secretary level talks on defense cooperation

India and Japan have held secretary level meetings of foreign affairs and defense officials on defense cooperation, local media reported on Tuesday.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs was "extremely tight- lipped about the talks" but sources confirmed these meetings took place on Monday, The Asian Age daily reported.

The talks were held as the United States is pushing for making the "Malabar" Naval exercises between India and the US into a trilateral framework to involve Japan as a permanent participant, said the report.

India and Japan have been discussing some strategic defense cooperation issues, including joint production of the Japanese amphibious aircraft US-2 and strengthening maritime security cooperation.

Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar visited Japan last week and discussed with Japanese officials on measures to step up defense and security cooperation between the two countries, according to local media reports.