Australia agrees landmark defence pact with Japan in face of rising Chinese ambitions
Australia has reached a landmark agreement to step up military exercises with a new partner as China flexes its muscles.
Australia and Japan have presented a united front opposed to rising Chinese ambitions in the South China Sea with an agreement on a landmark defence treaty.
On Tuesday night leaders of the two countries committed to signing a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that will enhance strategic and defence co-operation.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it represents a “pivotal moment” in the history of the relationship between the two countries.
“It will facilitate greater and more complex practical engagement between the Australian Defence Force and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, and enhance our interoperability and co-operation,” he said.
“From joint military training exercises through to natural disaster and humanitarian support, the RAA establishes streamlined arrangements to support the deployment of defence forces more quickly and with less administration.
“The significance of the RAA cannot be understated.
“It will form a key plank of Australia’s and Japan’s response to an increasingly challenging security environment in our region amid more uncertain strategic circumstances.”
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The long-awaited announcement has been six years in the making and came after a meeting between Mr Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in Japan.
The trip was Mr Morrison’s first overseas since the start of the pandemic and he invited Mr Suga to Australia next year to formally sign the agreement.
The RAA is an in-principle plan to facilitate better co-operation in terms of security and defence, but also to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Asia-Pacific region and improve disaster response.
It’s a sign both countries are willing to look outside traditional US-based alliances for allies in the face of a more assertive China.
The agreement specifically mentioned mutual concerns over the South China Sea, East China Sea, Hong Kong and North Korea.
“[The leaders] shared serious concerns about the recent negative developments and serious incidents in the South China Sea, including continuing militarisation of disputed features, dangerous and coercive use of coast guard vessels and ‘maritime militia’, launches of ballistic missiles, and efforts to disrupt other countries’ resource exploitation activities,” the announcement said.
China has not yet commented on the deal, however Foreign Minister spokesman Zhao Lijian took aim at Australia in Tuesday’s daily briefing for calling for an investigation into the source of COVID-19 through the World Health Organisation.
“Looking back over the past few years’ China-Australia relations, it is clear that some people in Australia, with their Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice, tend to regard China’s development as a threat, and have subsequently taken a series of wrong moves related to China, which is at the root cause of China-Australia relations taking a sharp downturn and stuck in the current difficult situation,” he said.
“Australia has also engaged in political manipulation on the pandemic by promoting the so-called “independent international inquiry”, which seriously interfered with international co-operation on pandemic prevention and control.
“There are even many clear-eyed people in Australia calling on the Australian government to take a rational and impartial stand in dealing with its relations with China. The Australian side should reflect on this seriously, rather than shirking the blame and deflecting responsibility,” he said.
Victoria.craw@news.com.au | @Victoria_Craw
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