











SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER  Minister for Defence

The Hon Stephen Smith MP  Minister for Foreign Affairs

www.defence.gov.au



Joint Foreign and Defence Ministers   Press Conference  IIKURA HOUSE, TOKYO  19 MAY 2010





Minister Okada

We had today the Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial  Consultations, or 2+2, and confirmed that the roles that Japan and Australia play are  growing greater for the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region, that is  undergoing a dynamic change, and agreed to further step up our partnership.  The  main results of today’s talks are the following four.

First is the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) between Japan and  Australia that we signed a moment ago.  We hope that with the signing of this  Agreement, cooperation will be promoted further between the Japanese Self Defense  Forces and the Australian Defence Forces as they engage in operations on the  ground such as UN Peacekeeping Operations and Disaster Relief Operations,  among others.

Secondly, we agreed to deepen consultations and cooperation on security strategy in  the Asia-Pacific under the Japan-US-Australia Trilateral Framework, recognising that  US presence continues to be indispensable in this region.

Thirdly, we exchanged views on the sinking of the Korean Corvette and we  appreciate South Korea’s calm response based on scientific and objective  investigations with the participation of experts from various countries, including  Australia, and we agreed that Japan and Australia shall support the position that  South Korea has taken, taking into consideration the results of the investigations that  will be disclosed soon.

Fourthly, on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, we agreed to step up our  cooperation in exercising leadership towards the realisation of a world free from  nuclear weapons, bearing in mind the results of the NPT Review Conference.

Following this press conference, we the four Ministers, will exchange views on  regional situations of concern to us over dinner.

Minster Kitazawa

Today we had a 2+2 meeting following the Japan-Australia Defence Ministerial  meeting and confirmed that our two countries will promote security cooperation.  As  Foreign Minister Okada has already explained about the 2+2, I’ll briefly supplement  that and then discuss Japan-Australia defence cooperation by referring to the results  of the Defence Ministerial meeting.

First on Defence cooperation.  In the 2+2 as well as the Defence Ministerial meeting,  we shared a recognition that the Japan-Australia ACSA will establish the foundation  for close defence cooperation between the JSDF and ADF and today’s signing of the  ACSA is an expression of the two countries’ strong determination to step up defence  cooperation.  We agreed to bilaterally study in the days ahead joint training and  exercises and airlift cooperation in connection with disaster relief operations,  amongst others utilising the ACSA.

In the Defence Ministerial meeting we confirmed that JSDF and ADF have built up  track record of cooperating with each other in Cambodia and East Timor, among  other places, and we shall continue to cooperate closely in the area of United Nations  Peacekeeping Operations.  In particular, we confirmed that in preparing for the  despatch of Japanese military liaison personnel to UN integrated mission in Timor  Leste, or UNMET, it will be possible to engage in cooperation including intelligence  sharing with Australia, which has been playing a central role in that Mission.

In addition, in the Defence Ministerial meeting, we confirmed that it will be important  for our two countries to share awareness of international situations and coordinate  their policies from the viewpoint of nurturing a security environment that will be more  conducive to the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.  We shall continue to  strive to further strengthen security and defence cooperation between Japan and  Australia for the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

Minister Smith

Firstly, Ministers can I thank you on behalf of Minister Faulkner and myself for your  warm welcome to Tokyo and also for our productive conversations.

This is the third Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministerial Meeting between Australia  and Japan, the third 2+2, but the first that has been conducted with the Hatoyama  Government.  And we welcome very much the opportunity of again coming to Japan  and conducting not just the 2+2 but also bilateral meetings with respective Ministers.

Foreign Minister Okada has underlined the importance of the 2+2 Meeting.  Everyone  appreciates the importance of the economic aspects of the Australia-Japan  relationship.  There is not enough importance placed on the defence, security and  strategic aspects of our relationship.  Through the 2+2 and through our Trilateral  Strategic Dialogue with the United States, Australia and Japan have a  comprehensive strategic, security, defence and intelligence relationship.

Foreign Minister Okada has outlined some of the key discussions or decisions.   Minister for Defence Faulkner will deal with the Agreement just signed between  Australia and Japan, the ACSA Agreement.

Can I also indicate that we have agreed to continue to pursue discussions for an  Information Sharing Agreement between Australia and Japan which we both regard  as very important to our future cooperation.

We also spoke about the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue that we have between  Australia, Japan and the United States.  Japan of course is an ally of the United  States, as Australia is an ally of the United States.  We both strongly share the view  that the United States’ ongoing active engagement in the Asia-Pacific region is very  important.  Very important to peace and security in our part of the world, in our  region.  And we look forward to future Trilateral Strategic Dialogue meetings.

Indeed the first meeting that Foreign Minister Okada and I had was in New York last  year in the margins of the General Assembly in the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue  format with Secretary of State Clinton.

Foreign Minister Okada has also underlined the concern that we expressed to each  other over the Cheonan incident, the South Korean Corvette.  We await very much  the objective scientific report in which Australia has played a role providing some  expert officers.  But we will await the outcome of those investigations and those  reports.  It is of course an incident which is of great concern to North Asia and great  concern to our region generally.

We spoke about our ongoing cooperation in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, not just expressing our ongoing concerns so far as North Korea’s  nuclear program is concerned, and the need for Iran to comply with United Nations  Security Council resolutions and International Atomic Agency resolutions.

But also our shared commitment for disarmament, our shared commitment for the  abolition of nuclear weapons.  We have been working very closely in the run-up to  the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference with the joint establishment  of the International Commission chaired by former Foreign Ministers from Australia  and Japan, former Foreign Ministers Kawaguchi and Evans.  And very pleased to be  able to jointly present Australia’s views, and Japan’s views, to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Review Treaty in the opening days of the Review Conference in New  York a week or so ago.

Finally, can I just indicate how pleased we are that Japan will play a role in the near  future in the peacekeeping mission in East Timor.  We value very much the  cooperation that we have with Japan in the defence and security and strategic area,  but we particularly value the role that we can play together in the peace-keeping and  peace-making area.

So we welcome very much the announcement that the Defence Minister has made in  respect of Japan’s future contribution to the United Nations Mission in Timor Leste.

Minister Faulkner

Thank you very much indeed Ministers and ladies and gentlemen.

I was very pleased on behalf of Australia to have signed the Australia-Japan  Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement and the supporting procedural  arrangements with my counterparts, Japanese Foreign Minister Okada and Defence  Minister Kitazawa this evening.

This is only the second ACSA signed by Japan after of course an Agreement with the  United States of America.  The ACSA will now be prepared for ratification by the  Australian Parliament and the Japanese Diet.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is an historic moment for Japan and Australia.  Signing  the ACSA is symbolic of a new stage in our bilateral defence relationship.  The ACSA  will enable us to work more closely with Japan in future peacekeeping, humanitarian  relief and disaster responses and in exercises and training.

Australia and Japan already have a strong record of cooperation in these areas, for  example following the Pedang earthquake in Indonesia last year Australia helped  transport a Japanese medical team to the disaster site.  The ACSA which we have  signed will reduce complexities which could delay the coordination of assistance.

The ACSA will also serve as a framework for us to discuss with Japan and the United  States how we might better plan to respond to future disaster scenarios in our region.   This could include coordinating airlifts of aid into a disaster area to reduce the burden  on an affected country, for example.

Ladies and gentlemen I think this is a very tangible indication of the growing depth  and strength of the defence relationship between our two countries.

Journalist

Miyagi of the Yomiuri Shimbun.  A question for Minister Okada and Minister  Kitazawa.  You had the signing ceremony of ACSA earlier.  To date in PKO in  response to large scale disasters Japan and Australia have cooperated with each  other and I wonder what is the meaning of signing an ACSA.  More recently China  has been more active in East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean and wouldn’t this  signing of ACSA between Japan and Australia be taken as say an element that will  only raise the tension level vis a vis China?

Minister Okada

The first Japan-Australia ACSA is in nature different from Japan-US ACSA.  The  Japan-US ACSA is to deal with the use of force or situations in areas surrounding  Japan on the basis of the Japan-US Security Treaty and provides goods and  services.

In the case of Japan and Australia, it provides for cooperation between Japanese  Self Defense Forces and ADF in response to disasters for relief operations and to  provide services and goods.

So I don’t think China will feel resentful of this, or will take it otherwise.  In Asia  essentially I believe Japan and Australia could respond to common disasters or  engage in PKOs and I believe that will be increasing occasions for Japan and  Australia to cooperate, and in such instances I believe the ACSA will work really  effectively.

Minister Kitazawa

Allow me to also respond to that also.  Foreign Minister Okada already referred to the  meaning of ACSA and I fully agree with that.  In the area of PKO and disaster relief  operations, Self Defense Forces and Australian Defence Force will have a closer  coordination and will actively contribute to international efforts.  And of course this  ACSA does not envisage a response to any particular country, such as China, rather  it is for the purpose of engaging in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance efforts  that no single country can carry out.  So I don’t think ACSA will invite resentment,  shall I say, from China.



Journalist

Peter Alford from the Australian Newspaper. A question for both Defence Ministers.   You talked about discussions now for an intelligence sharing arrangement.  Is this  envisaged to be for specific operational purposes or is it a general military and  security intelligence sharing arrangement between two countries and, if so, how does  it also involve the United States?

Minister Faulkner

Defence Minister Kitazawa has mentioned this in respect of a commitment by Japan  to UNMIT in Timor Leste.  One area where obviously Australia can assist is in terms  of intelligence cooperation in relation to those two personnel who will be going to  Timor Leste.

There are I believe other things Australia can do as well.  For example, we have  great language expertise in the Australian Defence Force and we are able to offer  some assistance to our Japanese friends in that regard.  I think that will be very  helpful and also I have offered Minister Kitazawa a suggestion that if it would be of  value to the Japanese Self Defense Force then I would be certainly happy to allow  Australian Defence Force personnel to brief Japanese Self Defense Force personnel  prior to them being deployed to East Timor.

Australia of course has had a commitment in East Timor now for a long time, for over  a decade, and we do have valuable experience which I believe the JSDF will be able  to draw on.  And that includes of course an offer of any intelligence support that we  are able to provide.

In the longer term, we are looking at developing all aspects of our defence  relationship with Japan.  And I believe there will be opportunities in the future for the  Defence Intelligence Organisation and their equivalent in the Ministry of Defence  here in Japan to talk and engage on matters of mutual interest.  But at this stage,  what we are focusing on are the two Japan SDF personnel who will be deployed to  East Timor.

Australia stands ready to assist and help Japan with that deployment which we think  is very valuable indeed.  Australia stands ready to help with that deployment in any  way we can.

Minister Kitazawa

As Minister Faulkner said, in the Defence Ministerial meeting we received a very kind  offer, especially with regard to language experts who are conversant with local  language, is a kindest offer [sic] to send such experts as well.  And so it a well  thought out consideration and I am very grateful for that.

It so happens that the Japanese Ambassador to East Timor was formerly with the  Defence Ministry, so having received that kind offer from Australia as we shall be  sending our officials, service members, it is most important I believe is the  information that Australia over the years has accumulated and we consider  information sharing to be extremely important so we count very much on Australian  cooperation, and thank you very much indeed.

End

