Japan and Australia signed a landmark treaty to strengthen defence ties, saying the accord would contribute to regional stability as China expands its military and economic clout.
The agreement is seen as another step by the regional allies to signal their concern over China's military expansion, while Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not mention Beijing directly in a statement released ahead of the signing.
Morrison called the agreement a statement of the two nations' commitment to work together to meet the shared security challenges we face and to contribute to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific This landmark treaty will, ahead of Thursday's online summit with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida. Morrison said that the framework for inter-operability and cooperation between our two forces should be provided for the first time.
He said that the partnership reflects our shared values, our commitment to democracy and human rights, and our common interests in a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific.
Japan and Australia are part of the Quad group that has worked to build an alliance in the face of China's increasing presence in Asia, including its threats to vital international sea lanes, along with the United States and India.
Ali Wyne, senior analyst at Eurasia Group, said the treaty could improve Tokyo and Canberra's ability to carry out joint military exercises in Japan with the United States.
He told AFP that it goes a long way towards concretising the forms that security cooperation between Japan and Australia could take.
Wyne said that China will likely cast it as evidence that advanced industrial democracies are trying to stymie its resurgence, although Beijing's conduct in recent years has contributed significantly to its growing diplomatic estrangement from those countries.
When asked about the treaty at a regular briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the Pacific Ocean is vast enough for the common development of countries in the region State-to- state exchanges and cooperation should be conducive to mutual understanding and trust among countries in the region and safeguard regional peace and stability, rather than targeting or undermining the interests of any third party.
We hope that the Pacific will be an ocean of peace, not a place to make waves. Japan's defence spending has been increasing steadily for a decade and the country's draft 2022 -- 23 budget includes a record figure for the military.
Tokyo's defence ministry says the regional security situation is becoming increasingly severe at an unprecedented speed noting challenges posed by China and North Korea.
Wyne said Thursday's treaty underscores the momentum of the Quad, which held its first in-person summit in Washington in September.
In September, the United States, Britain and Australia announced that they had formed a new alliance - AUKUS - under which Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines using US technology.