Japan-Australia Defense Deal: Japan and Australia to deepen military cooperation

World
Europe

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will visit Japan on Thursday, and military cooperation is one of the issues he'll be discussing with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. They're slated to sign a visiting forces agreement. Our correspondent Greg Navarro has the story.

A big part of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Australia nearly a year ago to meet with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was to further ties between the two countries. "We share democratic values and a common interest." Japan and Australia entered an economic partnership agreement in 2015. Now they are expected to focus on regional security by signing a visiting forces agreement.

GREG NAVARRO SYDNEY It's basically a legal arrangement that allows foreign forces to visit, train, and operate in another country's territory.

PROFESSOR BEN SCHREER MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY "For instances if you think about North Korea scenario which is not unlikely in the foreseeable future, that would allow Australian forces to operate from Japans territory if they have to."

The move is significant for Japan, because it represents an attempt to deepen the country's international security ties beyond just the United States. For Australia, analysts say it's part of the government's plan since 2009 to increase its defence capabilities.

PROFESSOR BEN SCHREER MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY "Australia is sending a signal that it intends to improve its relationship with Japan but also that it intends to play a more active role in Northeast Asia which is quite an important strategic area for Australia."

BLIGHT GRANT, SENIOR LECTURER UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY TECHNOLOGY "Australia's engagement with Asia has become more complex and more interesting and more multi-faceted and I think that is a very good thing."

The visiting forces agreement would better position the two countries to deal with a changing international environment.

PROFESSOR BEN SCHREER MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY "The rise of China, uncertainty over the regional power dynamics, uncertainty about US leadership in the region."

BLIGHT GRANT, SENIOR LECTURER UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY TECHNOLOGY "So there are challenges but it is more about the opportunities that come from a multi-lateral engagement that we have with the region."

The agreement would also make it easier for Japan and Australia to engage in joint training exercises and disaster-relief missions. Greg Navarro, CGTN, Sydney.