TOKYO — Japan and Australia said Wednesday they have stepped up their defense ties and moved toward a possible future submarine deal, as a rising China stirs tension in the Asia-Pacific region.
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera met with in Tokyo with Julie Bishop and David Johnston, their respective opposite numbers, for the fifth round of so-called “2+2” talks.
The Japanese said the two sides reached a broad agreement on a legal framework to allow the two nations to conduct joint research and trade in defense equipment.
“We reached a conclusion on negotiations for an agreement on cooperation in the field of defense equipment and technology,” Onodera said in a joint press conference.
He said details of the pact still needed to be ironed out.
But Bishop stressed that Japan and Australia are “natural partners” who are developing their “strong relationship” into a “special relationship.”
Johnston said Australia was particularly interested in Japanese diesel-electric submarines, although he added that Canberra has also approached other partner nations to study their submarine technologies.
Following an Australian request, Johnston will be given an extensive look at Japanese submarines during his stay.
Australia needs to replace its fleet of stealth subs over the coming years at a reported cost of up to US $37 billion.
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