Australia, Japan to sign security cooperation treaty
Australia and Japan will sign a treaty to increase defense and security cooperation at a virtual summit on Thursday.
Prime ministers, Scott Morrison of Australia and Fumio Kishida of Japan will meet in a virtual summit to sign the agreement, which Morrison said will underpin greater and more complex practical engagement between the Australian Defense Force and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
“Australia and Japan are the closest of friends.
“Our special strategic partnership is stronger than it has ever been, reflecting our shared values, our commitment to democracy and human rights and our common interests in a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific region,” Morrison said.
In September, Australia signed the so-called Aukus trilateral security pact with the United States and Britain under which those two countries pledged to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
The deal upset China, which said that Aukus seriously undermined regional peace and stability, intensified the arms race and undermined international non-proliferation efforts.
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Kamila/Reuters
