Defence Minister Richard Marles has hosted his US and Japanese counterparts in Darwin for trilateral discussions on increased military cooperation.

Japanese troops will begin regular deployments in northern Australia as part of military cooperation between the three countries, Mr Marles announced on Sunday.

"Today we are announcing that there will be regular deployments of Japan's amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade to Australia," Mr Marles said at a televised press conference in Darwin.

As US military presence ramps up in the north, experts say one of Australia's closest Asian neighbours is growing wary that the US's expanded presence could bring rising tensions to the region.

“A lot of countries in our region, whether it’s the Pacific or South-East Asia, they are predominantly concerned about development, about economics, about nation-building — not necessarily about what a rising China means for their defence or military interests,”

Japanese troops could join US marines for regular rotations through the Top End as Tokyo, Washington and Canberra continue to deepen defence and strategic ties in the face of China's swelling military might.

Next year, Australia will participate for the first time in Orient Shield, the largest annual field training exercise between the U.S. Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

Australia and Japan also plan to involve the Japanese Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, a marine unit of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, in annual training rotations of U.S. Marines in the northern Australian city of Darwin.

The ministers agreed on more engagement in training exercises involving the two air forces after F-35A Lighting II stealth fighters from both countries joined in combat training over Japan last year in Exercise Bushido Guardian

Deployments of Japanese F-35 fighter jets to northern Australia will be ramped up as part of a deepening of security ties between the two countries, while Anthony Albanese prepares to join Quad leaders for a summit in the US later this month.

Late last month, Tokyo lodged a diplomatic protest after a Chinese spy plane allegedly breached its airspace for the first time near the Danjo Islands in the East China Sea.

Shared concern by Australia and Japan over Chinese aggression prompted the signing of a landmark defence pact that came into force last year, making it easier for each country’s military to operate in the other nation.

At Thursday’s 2+2 talks, ministers are expected to expand the rotation of Japanese F-35 fighter jets for temporary basing in Australia, including joint exercises alongside US Marines in Darwin. Two Japanese jets were dispatched to Australia a year ago to test the viability of deployments.

In a strongly symbolic message, the talks will be held at Queenscliff, east of Geelong – home of the secretive Swan Island defence and spy training facility.

Hundreds of U.S. Marines and sailors, Australian soldiers and Japanese Self-Defense Force members are conducting a major warfighting exercise in Australia.

Shoalwater Bay, where the training is taking place, is an arena for the biennial Talisman Sabre exercise, which involved 17,000 U.S., Australian, New Zealand, Japanese, South Korean and British troops last summer.

Australian politicians reacted with alarm earlier this month after revelations that the Solomon Islands, 1,200 miles northeast of Shoalwater, was negotiating a security pact with China.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison refused to say how his government might respond if China attempted to establish a military base in the islands.

The exercise has taken place each year since 2015.