Japan, Australia sign cooperation pact

The two countries signed a pact to expand joint military exercises and to set up regular consultations between officers of the two countries on disaster prevention, fighting terrorism and international peacekeeping.

In a joint statement, the two countries said that their relationship aimed to “promote peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.”

The accord was signed by the foreign affairs and defence ministers of the two countries in the second so-called “two-plus-two” meeting since the nations signed a security pact in March 2007.

The pact was the first for officially pacifist Japan outside of its military alliance with the United States. For Australia, it was also the first security framework other than its alliances with Britain and the United States.

But relations have been shakier since Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took over in November last year.

The centre-left leader has taken a tough line against Japan’s Antarctic whaling, which is widely opposed in Australia, and sought to build ties with Japan’s sometime rival China.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, addressing a think tank ahead of the meeting, said Australia sought “an enduring partnership” with Japan.

“We have a comprehensive economic, security and strategic partnership with Japan,” he said. “We have a growing economic relationship with China. It is entirely possible for a nation-state to have a good relationship with more than one country and not impact adversely on another country.”

“The two-plus-two highlights the reality that Australia and Japan are firm friends, close partners and key players in addressing regional and global security challenges,” Smith said.

A Japanese foreign ministry official said Thursday’s accord would show a return to closer cooperation.

“Japan and Australia have talked about a new way of security cooperation since the Rudd government started,” the official said on condition of anonymity, calling the deal “a milestone in how to take the next step forward.”

In Sydney, Environment Minister Peter Garrett said Thursday that Australia was considering legal action against Japan over its annual whale hunt in Antarctic waters.

Australia was “continuing to push very, very hard in the diplomatic environment” for an end to Japan’s annual hunt, Garrett said.

An international moratorium on commercial whaling was imposed in 1986, but Japan kills hundreds of whales a year in the name of research, with the meat nonetheless ending up on dinner tables.

Japan says whaling is part of its culture but Australia says it is cruel and hurts its vibrant whale-watching industry.

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