The prime ministers of Japan and Australia said Thursday they would push to seal a major security agreement "as early as feasible," in the face of tensions over North Korea. The agreement on joint defence operations and exercises was at the centre of talks between Malcolm Turnbull and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during a one-day visit by the Australian leader.
In a joint statement after talks and a tour of a military training base outside Tokyo, Turnbull and Abe "welcomed the recent progress in negotiations, and directed all relevant ministers to conclude the negotiations as early as feasible." "Going forward, we agree to strive toward strengthening both quantitatively and qualitatively the joint exercises by Japan and Australia and aim at concluding an agreement at the earliest possible timing that would enable smooth mutual visits of the units," Abe added at a joint press conference.
The proposed pact would be the first of its kind for Japan and would make Australia Tokyo's closest military partner after the United States. It would involve joint defence operations and exercises, with one eye also on China as it expands its naval ambitions.
The pact would reportedly lay the ground for Japanese military exercises out of Darwin, the northern Australian city heavily bombed by Japan in World War II.