By Elishya Perera
SYDNEY (CWBN)_ China has reportedly used its nationalistic state media outlet, the Global Times, to criticise the new defence pact between Australia and Japan, saying that the agreement “accelerates the confrontational atmosphere in the Asia-Pacific region.”
The editorial also said that, “The RAA between Tokyo and Canberra is not about the defence cooperation in general terms. Japan and Australia are geographically distant from each other. This agreement clearly targets China and echoes the US’ Indo-Pacific Strategy.”
It concluded that China will take countermeasures and would not remain “indifferent to US moves aimed at inciting countries to gang up against China in the long run” and warned that Australia and Japan “will surely pay a corresponding price if China’s national interests are infringed upon and its security is threatened.”
However, the Chinese Government has not formally commented on the agreement.
It was previously reported that during Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s visit to Japan yesterday (Nov 17), the historical defence pact, known as the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), was agreed to “in principle” but had not been formally signed.
The agreement between the two nations concerned about China’s vigorous maritime expansion in the Indo-Pacific region, is expected to establish a legal framework to streamline each nation’s use of the other’s military bases.
PM Morrison insisted that says China should not be threatened by the signing of the RAA.
“This is a significant evolution of this relationship, but there is no reason for that to cause any concern elsewhere in the region,” he said. “I think it adds to the stability of the region, which is a good thing.”
Moreover, Australia’s Federal Trade Minister, Simon Birmingham, insisted the defence pact would not have any bearing on Australia’s growing trade dispute with China. “Japan and Australia are nations that share common values, share a commitment to democratic principles, and it’s little surprise we would want to work cooperatively,” he said.
As Beijing continues to place sanctions on products imported from Australia, China’s Commerce Minister, Zhong Shan, has previously linked Australia launching or joining multiple World Trade Organisation anti-dumping cases against various Chinese exports to the trade tensions between the two nations.
Accordingly, Beijing refuses to bear responsibility for the souring relationship with Australia and expects Canberra to make diplomatic advances to make amends.
Japan too has its own disputes with Beijing, particularly regarding increased presence of Beijing’s coast guard vessels in the disputed Senkaku Islands, which has been administered by Japan since 1972.
Moreover, increasing Chinese sanctions are being reported from Tokyo as well.
Edited By Chathushka Perera
