UK and Japan agree defence deal as fears over China grow
BRITISH troops could be deployed to Japan under a landmark defence deal set to be signed today.
Rishi Sunak and Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida will meet at the Tower of London to ratify the historic agreement.
Downing Street said the deal – which has been years in the making – is the most important defence treaty between Britain and Japan since 1902.
It will enable British forces to be deployed in Japan, making the UK the first European country to have a ‘reciprocal access agreement’ with the East Asian country, as fears over China’s influence in the region grow.
No 10 said the deal would cement the UK’s commitment to Indo-Pacific security, but declined to say if it was intended to build a bulwark against Beijing.
China has recently been carrying out combat drills close to Taiwan, with some speculating it may be a prelude to an invasion. The signing of the agreement comes weeks after the UK, Japan and Italy teamed up to develop the next generation of combat air fighter jets.
And last month the UK and Japan launched a digital partnership to strengthen cooperation across cyber resilience, online safety and semiconductors.
Mr Sunak and his Japanese counterpart will also discuss trade, Japan’s presidency of the G7, and the war in Ukraine. The two leaders will visit Japanese armour on display at the Tower of London, and Mr Sunak will tomorrow host the UK-Japan 21st Century Group at Downing Street, which seeks to promote dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.
Mr Sunak said last night: ‘In the past 12 months, we have written the next chapter of the relationship between the UK and Japan – accelerating, building and deepening our ties.
‘We have so much in common: a shared outlook on the world, a shared understanding of the threats and challenges we face, and a shared ambition to use our place in the world for global good, ensuring our countries prosper for generations to come. This Reciprocal Access Agreement is hugely significant for both our nations – it cements our commitment to the Indo-Pacific and underlines our joint efforts to bolster economic security, accelerate our defence cooperation and drive innovation.’ Mr Kishida’s visit to London is part of a tour of five G7 nations, marking Japan taking on the rotating presidency of the group for 2023.
His trip, which will see him visit France, Italy, the UK, Canada, and finally the US in the space of five days, comes as Japan breaks from its post-war restraint to take on more offensive roles, with an eye towards China.