Singapore and China have agreed to a “substantial programme” to deepen military ties after a Wednesday meeting between the two countries’ defence chiefs.

Among the proposed enhancements to an existing defence cooperation agreement is a second bilateral naval drill to be held next year, after the countries held a similar drill in 2015.

Collin Koh, a maritime security analyst with Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said the development was “expected” as Beijing sought to enhance and broaden engagement with its Southeast Asian neighbours.