Sunak signs historic Uk-japan security deal
Hiroshima Accord comes at time of rising tension with China as Truss warns of a new Cold War
RISHI SUNAK will today agree a historic deal on security with Japan, amid rising tensions with China.
The Prime Minister will sign the “Hiroshima Accord” with Japan – under which the UK will step up defence cooperation to uphold stability in the Indo-pacific – before the G7 summit in Hiroshima.
The two countries will also begin a partnership on semiconductors, working on research and development.
The agreement came after Liz Truss made a speech in Taiwan yesterday to urge Mr Sunak to declare China a threat.
Mr Sunak will spend the early part of today in Tokyo before meeting Fumio Kishida, the Japanese prime minister, in Hiroshima to sign the accord.
He said: “Prime Minister Kishida and I are closely aligned on the importance of protecting peace and security in the Indo-pacific and defending our values, including free and fair trade. The Hiroshima Accord will see us step up cooperation between our armed forces, grow our economies together and develop our world-leading science and technology expertise.”
The UK’S relationship with Japan has grown further and faster than with any other international partner, reflecting Japan’s pivotal role in the Indo-pacific and their centrality to the UK’S security and prosperity.
In Tokyo today, the Prime Minister will visit a naval base and confirm new Uk-japan defence cooperation.
This includes doubling UK troop numbers in upcoming joint exercises, committing to deploy the Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-pacific in 2025 and agreeing a formal Consult Clause, whereby the UK and Japan commit to consult each other on important regional and global security issues and consider measures in response.
Britain is also launching a set of science and technology programmes to support Uk-japan collaboration.
Mr Sunak will host a reception of key business leaders in Tokyo to reiterate the importance of the two countries’ trade and investment relationship, and is expected to announce job-creating investments worth billions in the UK.
The fourth Uk-japan joint “Vigilant Isles” military exercises in Japan later this year will be the biggest yet with around 170 UK personnel taking part, including members of the 1 Royal Gurkha Rifles and 16 Air Assault Brigade.
The UK will confirm today that its Carrier Strike Group will return to the Indo-pacific in 2025, following its maiden voyage to the region in 2021.
The fleet, comprising an aircraft carrier, its escorts and its aircraft, will work alongside the Japanese Self Defence Forces and other regional partners.
As part of the defence agreements under the Hiroshima Accord, the Prime Minister is also expected to agree a new Cyber Partnership with Japan. This will deepen Uk-japan co-operation on IT technology and set a high level of ambition for the future relationship.
In Taiwan yesterday, Ms Truss warned a Cold War with China had already begun. “The only choice we have is whether we appease and accommodate – or we take action to prevent conflict,” she said. “The UK’S integrated review needs to be amended to state clearly that China is a threat.”
Asked if his predecessor’s trip had been helpful, Mr Sunak said his Government’s policy of having only unofficial ties with Taiwan would not change.
He said: “I think that we have a very strong, unofficial relationship with Taiwan – as our allies do.”