Japan, Australia sign defence pact for closer cooperation

07 Jan,22 9:30 am
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Japan-Australia Defence Treaty

Japan-Australia Defence Treaty: Japan and Australia hailed a new agreement to cooperate closely on defence as a breakthrough and a landmark, in the latest step to bolster security ties against the backdrop of rising Chinese military and economic might.

Key Highlights:

  • The historic agreement was signed by the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on 6th January 2022.
  • Ahead of this online summit with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, Morrison called the agreement "a statement of 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.
  • The summit comes as tension over Chinese-claimed Taiwan has been rising as President Xi Jinping seeks to assert China's sovereignty claims over the democratically ruled island.
  • The virtual summit to seal a pact had been in the works for several years.
  • Australia has been working with Japan, US (United States), India and Britain to strengthen defence ties amid concerns about China, including its pressure on Taiwan, freedom of navigation in the region and trade disputes.
  • The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) is Japan's first with any country.
  • RAA will allow the Australian and Japanese militaries to work seamlessly with each other on defence and humanitarian operations.

About the Agreement:

  • Morrison and Kishida agreed that the two sides would work to update a 2007 Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation as soon as possible to set a clear direction for their ties.
  • According to a joint statement issued after the summit, they both underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and encouraged the peaceful resolution of issues.
  • It is for the first time that this landmark treaty will provide a clear framework for enhanced inter-operability and cooperation between our two forces.
  • The agreement includes sharing military facilities between the countries, landing rights, securing port access, logistic support, legal regimes, logistic support.
  • This means the advanced F-35s (fighter jet) of Japan can now practice in Australian soil while the Australian submarines can now operate in Japanese waters.
  • Both Japan and Australia share a common interest of keeping the US engaged in the Indo – Pacific.
  • The agreement is to expand Quad agenda.

Note: Japan has a status of forces agreement with the United States, which allows the United States to base warships, fighter jets, and thousands of troops in and around Japan as part of an alliance that Washington describes as the bedrock of regional security.

Alliance against the China Domination:

QUAD:

  • Japan and Australia, along with the United States and India, are part of the "Quad" grouping that has worked to build an alliance in the face of China's swelling presence across Asia, including its threats to vital international sea lanes.
  • The trilateral Malabar military exercise held between India, US and Japan till 2020, has now become a QUAD exercise with Australia participating in the exercise in 2021.

AUKUS:

  • In September, Australia, the United States, and Britain announced they had formed a new alliance -- AUKUS -- under which Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines using US technology.

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