Non-Subscriber Extract
Japan broadens horizons
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| 16 March 2007 |
By Robert Karniol JDW Asia-Pacific Bureau Chief
Bangkok
The 'Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Co-operation' was signed in Tokyo on 13 March by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his visiting Australian counterpart, John Howard. It is the first such accord signed by Japan that supplements its long-standing military alliance with the US, which is anchored by a formal mutual defence treaty.
"It is a great step in developing our security relationship with Australia but we don't yet have a detailed plan [on its implementation]," a Japanese source told Jane's. "The first phase will involve high-level exchanges and then staff-level exchanges. The two countries could eventually join in peacekeeping exercises but in my opinion this would probably start in a multilateral framework."
The annual 'Cobra Gold' exercise in Thailand could serve as the first mechanism for bringing Japanese and Australian troops together for peacekeeping training.
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© 2007 Jane's Information Group
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