Japan, US, Australia to strengthen defense cooperation in Indo-Pacific
(VOVWORLD) - The defense chiefs of Japan, the United States and Australia have agreed to strengthen defense cooperation to ensure security in the Indo-Pacific region.
 Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada (M), US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (L) and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles at the US Indo-Pacific Command headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii October 1, 2022. (Photo: KYODO) |
Meeting in Hawaii on Saturday, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles pledged to expand trilateral drills and facilitate cooperation in defense equipment, technology and information gathering.
They said that the three countries would align their strategies to continue to closely work together and remain committed to the region in order to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific and maintain and strengthen the rule-based international order.
The three countries oppose any actions that escalate tensions including the use of force to change the status quo, they said.
The three countries share common values and common purposes, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said, and are willing to defend an order that respects the rights of all nations to go about their business without bullying and intimidation.