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Australia in Japan security deal | Australia in Japan security deal |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The prime ministers of Japan and Australia have signed a security pact designed to enhance military co-operation between the two nations. | |
Japan's PM Shinzo Abe said the pact would help to stabilise the region. | |
The defence deal - Japan's first with a country other than the US - includes co-operation on border security, counter-terrorism and disaster relief. | |
It is the result of closer co-operation on security matters in Asia that Japan and Australia have been pursuing. | |
Japan's other defence treaty was signed in 1960, when the US guaranteed to defend Japan if it were attacked. | |
Mr Abe denied the new agreement, signed with Australian PM John Howard in Tokyo, was a response to China's military build-up. | |
"For our two countries to co-operate promotes the development of the region, as well as contributing to peace and security in the world," Mr Abe told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio. | "For our two countries to co-operate promotes the development of the region, as well as contributing to peace and security in the world," Mr Abe told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio. |
Mr Howard said Australia had "no better friend or more reliable partner within the Asia-Pacific region" than Japan. | Mr Howard said Australia had "no better friend or more reliable partner within the Asia-Pacific region" than Japan. |
"We are great Pacific democracies," he said. | "We are great Pacific democracies," he said. |
Chinese whispers | Chinese whispers |
The joint declaration comes amid regional concern over North Korea's nuclear and missile tests last year and wariness over China's growing military power. | The joint declaration comes amid regional concern over North Korea's nuclear and missile tests last year and wariness over China's growing military power. |
Australia and Japan were described recently by the US as important strategic allies in the Asia-Pacific region, and both backed the US-led war in Iraq. | Australia and Japan were described recently by the US as important strategic allies in the Asia-Pacific region, and both backed the US-led war in Iraq. |
When Japanese troops were in Iraq last year, Australian soldiers were deployed to provide security for them. | When Japanese troops were in Iraq last year, Australian soldiers were deployed to provide security for them. |
Now their close co-operation on security issues has been formalised. | |
According to the BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo, the four part agreement sets out priorities for the that co-operation - counter terrorism activities, maritime security, border protection and disaster relief. | |
Australia says the pact may lead to intelligence sharing and to Japanese troops taking part in military exercises on Australian soil. | |
It will not be a mutual defence treaty like Japan has with the US. But Australian officials say it could lead to intelligence sharing and joint military exercises. | |
Fears that Japan is moving away from its pacifist stance have been dismissed by Mr Abe. | Fears that Japan is moving away from its pacifist stance have been dismissed by Mr Abe. |
He denies that the declaration is aimed at China, and Mr Howard - who is in Tokyo - says he is not worried it will harm Canberra's ties with Beijing. | He denies that the declaration is aimed at China, and Mr Howard - who is in Tokyo - says he is not worried it will harm Canberra's ties with Beijing. |
The talks between the two men are also expected to include contentious issues such as the row over Japan's wartime use of women as sex slaves. | The talks between the two men are also expected to include contentious issues such as the row over Japan's wartime use of women as sex slaves. |
Mr Howard says he will raise the issue after Mr Abe last month said there was no evidence that Japan's military or government had been involved in coercion. | Mr Howard says he will raise the issue after Mr Abe last month said there was no evidence that Japan's military or government had been involved in coercion. |
He also wants to discuss Japan's insistence that it has a right to continue whaling. | He also wants to discuss Japan's insistence that it has a right to continue whaling. |