Australia and Japan sign defense and security cooperation treaty

Asia-Pacific, News, US January 6, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Australia and Japan signed a defense and security cooperation treaty at a virtual summit on January 6, amid China’s growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met virtually on January 6 after Kishida canceled his trips to Australia and the U.S. due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Both leaders signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement, which will set out a framework for the military forces of Australia and Japan to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Australian Prime Minister Morrison said that the signing of the agreement is a “pivotal moment for Australia and Japan” that will “form an important part” of the two countries’ response to “the uncertainty we now face”.

The Reciprocal Access Agreement would also “underpin greater and more complex engagement in operability between the Australia Defence Force and Japan Self-Defense Forces,” Morrison added.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida acclaimed the agreement as “a landmark instrument which will elevate security cooperation between the nations to new heights”. Japan has a similar engagement with its close ally, the United States.

Australia and Japan seek to boost defense and security relations under the Quad framework. The signing of the treaty would also expand the efforts of the U.S., Australia, Japan, and India to work on common concerns about China’s rising military power, trade disputes, and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.

During the meeting, the leaders of Australia and Japan also discussed opportunities to enhance government and business partnerships on critical technologies, materials, and clean energy.

^{Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, (right), and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison show off signed documents during their video signing ceremony of the bilateral reciprocal access agreement at Kishida’s official residence in Tokyo, Japan, on January 6, 2022 (Image Credit: Issei Kato/Pool via Reuters)}

Earlier Australian Prime Minister Morrison said in a statement: “This treaty will be a statement of our two nations’ commitment to work together in meeting the shared strategic security challenges we face and to contribute to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific.”

“Our cooperation also includes an expanding agenda for the Quad with India and the United States, and our shared technology-led approach to reducing carbon emissions,” Morrison added.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that “Japan-Australia relations will be further enhanced, and towards the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific, we will reaffirm our cooperation.”

Earlier on January 4, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida said that he is focused on outlining anti-pandemic measures, and canceled his overseas visits due to the upcoming session of Parliament starting on January 17.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin on January 5 responded to the signing of the Australia-Japan defense treaty by saying that China believes that “state-to-state exchanges and cooperation should be conducive to enhancing mutual understanding and trust among countries in the region and safeguarding regional peace and stability, rather than targeting or undermining the interests of any third party. bilateral treaties should promote regional trust, peace and stability.”

Wang added: “Peace and stability in the Pacific depend on the joint efforts of countries in the region” and China hopes that the region will become an ocean of peace.