WORLD / Asia-Pacific
Australia-Japan accord 'not aimed at China'
(AFP)
Updated: 2007-02-06 11:15
SYDNEY - A proposed new defence agreement between Australia and Japan is
not aimed at China, according to Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer insisted that a proposed new
defence agreement between Australia and Japan is not aimed at China and
that Beijing does not need to worry. [AFP]
Prime Minister John Howard is expected to sign the accord with his
Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during a visit to Japan next month,
national radio reported.
Downer said the agreement would not have treaty status and that any joint
military exercises would focus on counter-terrorism, disaster relief and
peacekeeping.
"It's not a statement which is designed to... prepare for war," he told
reporters.
Downer said the agreement, which was still being negotiated, should not
worry Beijing.
"We certainly have always said we have no policy of containment or
isolation for China -- quite the contrary. We believe the more we engage
China bilaterally, within our region and beyond, the better that is.
"There's no need for them to be upset. It's not directed at China."
Downer said he understood that some Australian veterans of World War II
might be unhappy about the idea of a security arrangement with Japan, but
that it was time to move on.
"We certainly have already begun working with the Japanese military in
East Timor, Cambodia and most recently Iraq," he said. "We're of the view
that we need to have cooperation between our defence forces.
"But if we're to have joint exercises, they'd probably focus very much
more on things like disaster relief rather than the more aggressive type
of military exercises we might have with the Americans."
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