LOC17:40
14:40 GMT
TOKYO, Sept 5 (KUNA) -- Japan and Australia on Thursday reaffirmed defense cooperation and pledged to provide assistance to Pacific island nations to help improve their digital infrastructure, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported from Queenscliff.
In a joint statement issued after their meeting at Queenscliff in the southeastern state of Victoria, the two countries' foreign and defense ministers said they are "determined to further deepen and expand our strategic and security cooperation" to help prevent conflict and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, according to the report.
As part of the assistance to Pacific island nations, Australia and Japan will work with other like-minded partners to secure undersea telecommunications cable connectivity for the nations, the statement said.
The four ministers also shared concerns about Chinese military activities in Japan's territory, including the violation of its airspace by a Chinese spy plane last week, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara was quoted as saying at a press conference after their talks.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles said the ministers had agreed to enhance engagement between the two nations' air forces and further develop trilateral engagements with the US.
Australia will also join the Orient Shield annual joint exercise held by the US Army and Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force next year for the first time, Marles said.
In an effort to streamline planning for joint exercises and operations, the two countries agreed to embed Australian and Japanese liaison officers in each other's command headquarters, he added.
The security talks held by Marles, Kihara, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Kamikawa were the first "two-plus-two" talks between the two nations since December 2022 in Tokyo.
Australia and Japan have deepened their security partnership, engaging in more frequent joint exercises and collaboration between defense forces under a bilateral reciprocal access agreement that took effect in August last year. (end)
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