Japan signals interest in AUKUS defence tech partnership

SYDNEY: Japan is interested in discussing cooperation with the United States, Australia and Britain on advanced military technology, an official said yesterday, signalling Tokyo could become more involved in the trio’s landmark security partnership AUKUS.

An official from Japan’s embassy in Australia told AFP that the government supported

AUKUS’ efforts in the IndoPacific region and was looking at how to deepen cooperation.

They added Japan was aware of discussions between Australia, the UK and the United States on a range of issues, including AI and underwater capabilities.

“Japan is interested in the possibility of technical cooperation in the field of advanced capabilities, and so will continue to strengthen cooperation with Australia, the US and the UK,” the embassy said in a statement.

“[Japan] will continue to strengthen cooperation with its important defence and security partners Australia, the US and the UK in order to realise a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’.”

AUKUS was established in 2021 and has two main practical goals:

So-called Pillar I, aims to provide Australia with a fleet of nuclearpowered attack submarines.

Pillar II focuses on developing advanced warfighting capabilities such as AI, undersea drones, and hypersonic and electronic warfare technologies.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will travel to Washington next month, where he could announce the country’s collaboration on the security partnership, Japan’s Nikkei reported on Saturday quoting unnamed US officials.

A UK House of Commons briefing last year, found New Zealand, Japan and South Korea would be “ideal candidates” to cooperate on Pillar II. Australian officials briefed their New Zealand counterparts in February about the programme.