The United States and Papua New Guinea have made "substantial progress" on the text of a defense cooperation agreement that lays the groundwork for closer military ties between the two nations, the U.S. Department of State said on Saturday.
The negotiations come amid mounting concern over China's intentions toward self-ruled Taiwan and Beijing's extensive claims in the disputed South China Sea.
Negotiators from the U.S. State Department and Papua New Guinea's Department of Foreign Affairs met in Honolulu, Hawaii, from Monday to Friday to discuss a defense cooperation agreement(DCA), the state department said.
