Australia (Common Wealth) _ As a result of a security agreement with the Asian nation, Australian military personnel will be authorized to operate in Japan.
Australia and Japan signed a reciprocal access agreement (RAA) Friday, allowing their forces to enter each other’s countries for training and other military objectives, as well as to collaborate more closely.
According to the Australian government, the agreement paves the way for more sophisticated training activities between the two armed forces. A new defense pact would see Royal Australian Air Force F-35 Lightning jets deployed to Japan. (Photo courtesy of The Age/Eddie Jim) (Nine)
This includes the arrival of Japanese F-35 fighter jets at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory later this month, as well as the first deployment of Royal Australian Air Force F-35s to Japan for a major military exercise early next month. The RAA was signed in January 2022 by the former Coalition government as both Australia and Japan sought to counter growing Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific area.
Since 2007, when Australia and Japan signed their first defense statement, China’s military expenditure has more than doubled. “We must remain engaged as champions for peace and prosperity in our region and around the world,” he said.
Albanese was speaking during a press conference yesterday in Sydney for Exercise Malabar, a joint military exercise between Australia, India, US and japan forces. He emphasized that peace is “never a given” and must be “built, defended, and maintained.”
The deal, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, is critical in resolving regional security challenges. “As champions for peace and prosperity in our region and around the world, we must remain engaged,” he stated.
Albanese was addressing during a press conference yesterday in Sydney for Exercise Malabar, a combined military exercise involving Australian, US, Indian, and Japanese personnel. He emphasized that peace is “never a given” and must be “built, defended, and maintained.”
Japan said on Tuesday that a pact with Australia to facilitate joint drills and boost security cooperation will go into effect on Sunday, as the two countries attempt to counter China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement, like Tokyo’s existing Status of Forces Agreement with the United States, is intended to promote faster deployment of Japanese Self-Defense Forces and Australian Defense Force soldiers.
The agreement, Japan’s first RAA, will also loosen limits on the transit of weapons and supplies for joint exercises and disaster relief operations. It will be inked in January 2022. The action came after the Japanese parliament adopted legislation for the pact, as well as one with the United Kingdom, in April to complete its domestic approval processes.
Japan hopes to strengthen security connections with the US and other like-minded countries through the security treaties in order to increase deterrence against Beijing, which has become increasingly militarily assertive in the Indo-Pacific area.
Japan and Australia agreed to begin talks on the RAA in 2014 and secured a comprehensive agreement in November 2020. However, Japan’s adherence to the death penalty system slowed finalization, since Canberra, which has abolished capital punishment, has urged other countries to do the same.
An annex to the agreement gives Australia the authority to block the transfer of its soldiers guilty of crimes in Japan, avoiding potential death sentences. Japan and the United Kingdom signed a RAA in January of this year, but London has yet to complete the domestic procedures for its implementation.
