The governments of Japan and Australia have begun negotiating to conclude a new Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation at a summit to be held in Australia later this month, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned from government officials. The aim is to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region with China's growing hegemonic power in mind, and to take security cooperation with Australia, which Japan regards as a quasi-ally, to an even higher level.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to visit Perth in Western Australia from Friday to Sunday. The new joint declaration is expected to include security and defense cooperation to realize a "free and open Indo-Pacific," and is being considered for signature by Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
