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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.

[ENDS]

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