Australia will move to strengthen military ties to counter a growing threat from Beijing in the Indo-Pacific by partnering with Japan and the United States to shore up a new air defence strategy.
Details of just what technology the strategy will incorporate have not been shared with the media, owing to their classified status.
“Today we announce our vision to co-operate on a networked air defence architecture among the United States, Japan, and Australia to counter growing air and missile threats,” said U.S. President Joe Biden, who has been in talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, on April 10.
Japan has been slated to join the second part of the AUKUS trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK, and the United States, which was first announced on Sept. 15, 2021.
Under AUKUS’s four-pillar system, “pillar two” concentrates on artificial intelligence, hypersonic missiles, undersea capabilities, and quantum technologies.
“Recognising Japan’s strengths and its close bilateral defence partnerships with all three countries we are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS pillar two advanced capability projects,” said Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and UK Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps.
Other countries have also expressed interest in pillar two of the pact, including New Zealand, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
No Formal Plans Yet: Australian PM
Whilst the joint statement appeared to affirm an alliance was on the cards, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on April 10 that there were no plans to formally expand the pact.He did say Japan was a “natural candidate for that to occur.”
“We’ve already stepped up our defence relationship with Japan in agreements. What is not proposed is to expand the membership of AUKUS.”
