The United Kingdom and Japanese prime ministers will sign a “hugely significant” new defence deal allowing UK troops to deploy in Japan when the pair meet in London on Wednesday.
\nAccording to international media reports, the agreement is the latest sign of London’s growing interest in the Asia-Pacific region, and Tokyo’s efforts to strengthen its alliances to face the challenges posed by China.
\nThe deal creates a legal basis for the deployment of British and Japanese troops on each others’ territory for training and other operations.
\nPrime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office called it “the most significant defence agreement between the two countries in more than a century”.
\nThe agreement will “accelerate defence and security cooperation and allow the UK and Japan to deploy forces in one another\u2019s countries,” the office said.
\n“This Reciprocal Access Agreement is hugely significant for both our nations \u2014 it cements our commitment to the Indo-Pacific and underlines our joint efforts to bolster economic security.”
\nJapan last January signed a similar accord with Australia, and Tokyo has recently overhauled its defence and security policy to address growing pressure from China.
\nJapan has a pacifist post-war constitution, which limits its military capacity to ostensibly defensive measures.
\nBut last month, the government approved plans to hike defence spending to two percent of GDP by 2027, up from the traditional one-percent level, and warned that China poses the “greatest strategic challenge ever” to its security.
\nBritain has also become increasingly forceful in its approach to China, with Sunak warning in November that Beijing poses a “systemic challenge” to UK values and interests.
\nThe UK, Italy and Japan said last month that they will jointly develop a future fighter jet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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