China’s foreign ministry said it is “gravely concerned” over reports that Japan could join AUKUS, a security and defense pact between Australia, the UK, and the US.
Formed in 2021, the pact’s leaders said it wasn’t created to challenge one particular country, though it’s widely thought to act as a counter to China’s position in the Indo-Pacific.
The first stage of the agreement, or “pillar,” is helping Australia acquire its first conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
The organization said on Monday that it planned to consult with other nations, including Japan, on the possibility of working together on a new military capability project titled Pilar II.
Aukus said in a press release that it is “considering” Japan’s involvement, which could involve working on quantum technologies, undersea capabilities, AI, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic technologies, and electronic warfare capabilities.
Biden is expected to discuss Japan’s involvement in the project with Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House on Wednesday, the South China Morning Post said.
At a press briefing on Monday, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, responded to reports that Japan could join AUKUS as a member.
“China is gravely concerned about it,” she said in part of the statement.
“We oppose relevant countries cobbling together exclusive groupings and stoking bloc confrontation. Japan needs to earnestly draw lessons from history and stay prudent on military and security issues,” she added.
Japan’s involvement with the initiative could be crucial to its success. As Financial Review notes, Japan is one of the most “technically advanced” countries in the world and is considered a leader in AI, robotics, and quantum computing.
There are also advantages in Japan’s military power. The country’s defense budget has increased over the past 12 years, now amounting to increased military outlays of $56 billion, according to figures published by the US Naval Institute cited by Forbes.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese clarified that working with Japan wouldn’t signal recruitment.
“What is proposed is to look at ‘pillar two’ of AUKUS and look at a project-by-project, whether there would be engagement, and Japan is a natural candidate for that to occur,” Albanese said, according to Reuters.
“What is not proposed is to expand the membership of AUKUS,” he added.
Meanwhile, an unnamed Japanese government official told Reuters that formal discussions about joining the pact as a member are unlikely to happen as “nothing’s been achieved with AUKUS yet.”
The official said adding a new member “would only disrupt the framework of cooperation that is meant to be its basis.”
There’s also the matter of confidentiality. According to Reuters, officials and experts have said Japan must maintain better cyber defenses and stricter rules for keeping government secrets for it to be initiated into the pact.
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