Australia is to sign a defence pact with Japan as a bulwark against Beijing’s growing military power and assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region. The pact will contain a reciprocal agreement to allow the two signatories to deploy troops in each other’s territory, as well as mutual training arrangements and is “aimed at sending a strong message” to
China. Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister, is expected to travel to Tokyo within weeks to sign the agreement with Yoshihide Suga, his Japanese counterpart, Australia’s
Financial Review newspaper reported.
The pact follows a sharp deterioration of relations between Canberra and Beijing, with China barring several categories of Australian exports after Mr Morrison called in April for a full investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, and criticised Beijing’s activities in the region.
It also comes after recent calls for the creation of a Nato-type defence alliance in Asia to act as a counterbalance to China. India, the US, Australia and Japan are to conduct joint naval exercises together this month.
Beijing’s military has expanded and advanced rapidly in recent years. It is developing aircraft carrier strike groups, fortified several islets in the contested South China Sea, conducted almost continuous exercises around Taiwan on recent months and sought to crush Hong Kong’s autonomy and pro-democracy movement.
A pact between Australia and Japan would mark an extraordinary turn around for nations that were bitter Second World War enemies. Japan’s imperial forces bombed the north Australian city of Darwin more than 50 times and about 21,000 Australians were taken prisoner by Japanese forces in the Pacific who gained a reputation for brutality. About 7,500 of those captured would never return home.
Japan and Australia have increased defence co-operation in recent years, through joint exercises by ground, maritime and air forces and in military surveillance activities to prevent ship-to-ship transfers of banned goods by North Korea. Negotiations to finalise the pact are understood to have overcome concerns that Australian troops in Japan could in theory be exposed to the country’s laws, which allow capital punishment for the most serious crimes. Australia abolished the execution of offenders decades ago with the last taking place in 1967.
Britain, according to
The Japan Times, has expressed its eagerness to agree a similar defence pact with Japan. The newspaper said talks may start after the Australian deal is concluded.
Figures released today suggested that China’s embargoes are taking a substantial toll on Australian exports, most notably coal, with Beijing reporting its imports of the fuel have fallen 47 per cent in October from the same month a year ago. It emerged too that two dozen Indian sailors have been stranded at a Chinese port for five months on board a ship blocked from unloading 170,000 tonnes of Australian coal.
Jag Anand, an Indian registered bulk carrying vessel, left Gladstone in central Queensland on May 24 but has remained at Jingtang Port in northern China since June 13, unable to unload its cargo.
Australian companies, which send about 30 per cent of all exports annually to China, their largest overseas market, have been alarmed by reports over the past week that Beijing intends to block Australian wine, lobster, copper, sugar and timber.
Last week tonnes of live
Australian lobster were stranded on the tarmac at a Chinese airport after the Chinese authorities raised fears the shipment might be contaminated.