11.   But as part of efforts to strengthen defense ties the government has decided to order production from the Japanese companies, the Nihon Keizai financial daily said.

12.   China recently criticized Australia for upgrading its defense ties with the United States, a step Beijing believes is aimed at containing Chinese ambitions to be a regional power.

13.   Cohen said he wanted to address issues of concern to China, such as U.S. defense ties to Japan and American policy toward Iran and Iraq.

14.   Cohen heads to Gulf to shore up defense ties.

15.   Defense ties between the countries have been somewhat controversial of late.

16.   During his one-day visit, Bathurst also assured Malaysia that Britain would maintain its close defense ties with Malaysia, Fadzil said.

17.   Grachev arrived in Seoul earlier Friday on a three-day official visit to strengthen bilateral defense ties.

18.   In a move likely to further irritate Arab nations, Turkish and Israeli military leaders on Monday discussed strengthening defense ties.

19.   In his meeting with the former government heads, Li expressed concern over post-Cold War defense ties between the United States and Japan, national broadcaster NHK reported.

20.   India, which has close defense ties with Bhutan and regards it as a buffer state between it and China, is likely to agree.