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Agence France-Presse

Japan vowed to bolster military ties with Australia during a high-ranking visit on Thursday, with Tokyo’s top diplomat saying the “like-minded” partners must stick together to combat shared regional threats.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Minoru Kihara met their Australian counterparts at an old army fort outside Melbourne, striking deals on greater air force cooperation and expanded military exercises.
They also agreed to jointly help the Philippine coastguard, which is locked in an escalating tussle with Chinese ships in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
“Amidst the increasingly difficult security environment in the Indo-Pacific, we need to constantly raise Japan-Australia security cooperation to a new height,” Kamikawa said after the meeting, touting a “like-minded partnership”.
China’s growing economic and military clout in the Asia-Pacific region – and its assertiveness in territorial disputes – has rattled the United States and allies such as Japan and Australia.
Tokyo has in recent weeks accused China of deliberately sailing a naval ship through its waters and flying a surveillance plane into its air space.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the meeting raised “serious concerns” about recent “incursions” into Japanese territory.
The meeting produced broad agreements for Japan and Australia to boost air force cooperation, and to join each other in military exercises alongside the US.
Japan’s elite Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade could soon take part in US Marines rotations based in Australia’s key northern base near Darwin.


Defence Minister Kihara said Japan was considering whether its fleet of F-35 stealth fighters could be deployed to Australian air fields, but said an agreement on this was yet to be struck.
“As for the rotation of the Air Self-Defence Force aircraft, we would like to continue to have consultations between Australia and Japan,” cautioned Kihara.
The two countries promised joint support for the Philippine coastguard, although it was unclear what this help would look like.
Japan and northern Australia offer strategically important military gateways to potential flashpoints in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea and South China Sea.
Both are part of the Quad alliance alongside the US and India, a grouping seen as a bulwark against Beijing.
Tokyo has recently shown an interest in parts of the landmark Aukus security accord between Washington, London and Canberra – particularly helping with the development of advanced military technologies.
Staunchly pacifist for decades, Japan has been ramping up defence spending with US encouragement.
Australia has, meanwhile, embarked on its own military overhaul, ploughing money into long-range strike capabilities and the development of nuclear-powered submarines.


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Japan

Japan, Australia to take military ties to ‘new height’ to tackle China clout

(Left to right) Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles during their meeting in Queenscliff on Thursday. Photo: EPA-EFE


Japan eyes major warship deal with Australia – to pave way for Aukus membership?

A Japanese Mogami-class guided-missile frigate. Tokyo aims to build a variant the warship in collaboration with Canberra. Photo: Handout

A Berlin-class replenishment ship of the German navy makes a port call in Tokyo in August. Japan has sought to broaden its network of security partners. Photo: Kyodo

Japan’s Mogami-class frigates feature advanced stealth capabilities. Photo: Handout

Was incursion of Japan airspace a ‘message’ from China over US moves in Indo-Pacific region?

A Chinese military Y9 intelligence-gathering aircraft that Japan’s defence ministry said “violated” Japanese airspace on Monday. Photo: Japan’s Ministry of Defence / AFP

Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force’s Izumo-class helicopter carrier DDH-184 Kaga is moored at a naval base in Sasebo, on the southwest island of Kyushu in April 2018. Photo: Reuters

South China Sea: Philippines urged to forge global cooperation over marine life damage

A Philippine fishing boat near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

Structures on the Chinese-occupied Subi reef, locally called Zamora reef, in the South China Sea. Photo: AP

Fishing nets on the seabed in the waters of the Second Thomas Shoal, referred to by Beijing as Ren’ai Jiao. Photo: Xinhua

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Asia

East Asia

Australasia

Tokyo and Canberra signed security deals and agreed to jointly help the Philippine coastguard in the South China Sea


Tokyo and Canberra signed security deals and agreed to jointly help the Philippine coastguard in the South China Sea.
