The Japanese Self-Defense Force plans to provide “weapon and other protection” to the Australian army
The Japanese Self-Defense Force plans to provide “weapon and other protection” to the Australian army
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds held talks in Tokyo on the 19th.
The two sides will provide “weapon and other protection” to the Australian military on the Japanese Self-Defense Force. Agree in principle.
According to local media reports, the defense agencies of Japan and Australia will start consultations on this in the future.
If this is achieved, Australia will become another target country for the
Japanese Self-Defense Force to provide “weapons and other protection” besides the United States.
During the talks, the Japanese and Australian Defense Ministers also reached agreement on aerial refueling tests,
joint research and development of unmanned aerial vehicles, cooperation in the aerospace and cyber fields
and exchanges of military personnel, and expressed that they would continue consultations on the “Status of Visiting Forces Agreement.”
In 2016, the Japanese government adopted the “Weapons and other protection” guidelines to allow the Self-Defense Forces to use weapons in the “gray area situation” of “before armed attack” to “guard” the U.S. military and other countries that “help Japan’s defense activities.” .
According to Japanese media reports, from 2017 to 2019, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces provided the US military with “weapon and other protection” 32 times. Japanese media also pointed out that expanding the target countries for “weapons and other protection” may increase the risk of Japan being involved in armed conflicts.
