Japan closer to AUKUS

  

U.S., U.K. and Australia discuss AUKUS tech cooperation with Japan

Defense ministers from the U.S., U.K. and Australia, the three members of the AUKUS security pact, announced on Monday that they're considering cooperation with Japan under "Pillar II" of the agreement, which focuses on technology sharing to develop advanced defense capabilities.
 
Japan would not be involved in Pillar I of the tripartite pact, which is about Australia's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, but has been seen as a natural candidate to participate in the second plank of the arrangement given its industrial base and close ties to the U.S. and its allies.
 
AUKUS was signed in 2021 as part of efforts to counter China's increasing assertiveness in the region.
 
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said the announcement was not an expansion of AUKUS but was about working with other countries on certain projects. Pillar II covers areas such as cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and hypersonic missiles.
 
However, security analysts say more work needs to be done by Japan to protect secrets and reform restrictive defense technology export controls.