NHK



 

Foreign and defense ministers of Japan and Australia have agreed to strengthen security cooperation amid China's growing assertiveness.

Japan's Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Defense Minister Kihara Minoru met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defense Minister Richard Marles in "two plus two" talks held outside Melbourne, Australia on Thursday.

They discussed China's increasing military activities in the region, evidenced by a recent intrusion by a Chinese military plane into Japan's airspace.
The ministers expressed their strong opposition to any attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China seas by force.

They also stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The ministers pledged to promote joint training through the Reciprocal Access Agreement, an accord implemented last year that sets out rules on the handling of weapons and ammunition during joint training between Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military.

They also agreed to upgrade the interoperability of cruise missiles that Japan plans to use to beef up its counterstrike capabilities.

The ministers also pledged to create a framework to provide Pacific island nations with financial and technical assistance in building digital infrastructure, such as undersea cables.

At a joint news conference after the talks, Foreign Minister Kamikawa said the participants agreed to constantly deepen bilateral cooperation as it is extremely important for each country's national security, as well as the peace and stability of the region.

She added that the two countries, in cooperation with the United States, will jointly strengthen their deterrence capabilities in the region.
Defense Minister Kihara said that the meeting allowed the two sides to confirm the unprecedentedly strong Japan-Australia security and defense cooperation.

He also said the Australian ministers shared Japan's strong concerns over the Chinese military plane's intrusion into Japan's airspace.