Japan and Australia move toward strengthening ties in defence relationship
The leaders of the Australian and Japanese air forces have come together to celebrate a new era in the military relationship between the two countries.
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A Japanese general has laid a wreath at the Darwin Cenotaph in a show of “mateship” between Australia and Japan.
General Shunji Izutsu is in Darwin to commemorate the fallen of World War II, and the first time Japan has participated in Exercise Pitch Black.
In a memorial service on Monday, General Izutsu said he was looking forward to strengthening the relationship between the two nations.
“May this mateship between Japan and Australia last forever more as we continue to contribute to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region and the world,” he said.
He said his country was honoured to be able to participate in Pitch Black.
“How significant it is to be able enjoy the realistic training environment here which the RAAF provides,” General Izutsu said.
Australian Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Robert Chipman said General Izutsu’s request to lay the wreaths was “a display of deep respect”.
“It is a wonderful demonstration of the power of reconciliation,” he said.
“This co-operation and commitment is on full display today during Exercise Pitch Black with aviators from Australia and Japan working side-by-side to strengthen partnerships, interoperability and advance regional security.”
“Now, we fly together as partners and we train together as friends.”
Air Marshall Chipman said the air force was “extremely proud” of how the training exercise had gone so far.
“It gives other nations an opportunity to come to some of the best training airspace in the world and we’ve been extremely impressed with the quality of the execution that we’ve seen throughout the last couple of weeks,” he said.
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