AUSTRALIA - JAPAN JOINT DECLARATION ON SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 CANBERRA 000334 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, PM, L AND T PACOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017 TAGS: MARR KTIA ASEC PREL AS JA SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA - JAPAN JOINT DECLARATION ON SECURITY COOPERATION (C-AL7-00335) REF: STATE 26348 CANBERRA 00000334 001.2 OF 004 Classified By: DCM DANIEL CLUNE. REASON: 1.4 (C) ¶1. (U) This message contains an action request - please see para 6 below. ¶2. (C) On March 5, DFAT North Asia Division First Assistant Secretary (FAS) Peter Baxter and Japanese Embassy SIPDIS Minister-Counselor Shinichi Hosono briefed DCM on the Australia - Japan Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation to be signed by Prime Minister SHINZO ABE and Prime Minister John Howard during the latter's March 12-14 visit to Japan. (See text at para 6.) They pointed out that the "epochal" agreement provides a basis for two democratic, free-market allies of the United States to move ahead in expanding their bilateral cooperative defense and security relationship. As an example, Baxter pointed to the "close and successful" cooperation between the two countries in Iraq, which was the catalyst in strengthening their strategic relationship, as well as to their shared experiences in Cambodia and East Timor. He emphasized that the agreement is not directed at any third party, though he acknowledged that China had already made low-level representations to Canberra endeavoring to learn the nature of the agreement. FM Downer and FM Aso had begun discussing a possible cooperative security agreement in August 2006, he noted, as a way of reflecting the reality of the bilateral ¶3. (C) The agreement states that Japan and Australia will strengthen cooperation on strategic issues in the Asia Pacific region, including cooperation for a peaceful resolution of matters related to North Korea, such as its "nuclear development, ballistic missile activities, and humanitarian issues including the abduction issue." Australia and Japan also will strengthen cooperation to address terrorism. The agreement affirms common strategic interests and security benefits embodied in their respective alliance relationships with the United States and commits to strengthening trilateral cooperation between the three countries. The agreement calls for strategic dialogue between their foreign and defense ministers anually, replicating the 2 plus 2 format that Japan had with the United States, and that Australia had with the United States and the UK. Baxter and Honoso solicited a U.S. statement of support for the agreement after it is made public at the March 13 signing in Tokyo. Baxter also indicated that the signing would attract significant media attention in Australia and that the Embassy should be prepared to respond to inquiries. ¶4. (C) Baxter said the accord, which is an executive agreement rather than a treaty, built upon an existing (2003) memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation between Japan and Australia. The agreement is intended to ensure that the bilateral security and defense links between Australia and Japan were sufficiently robust to allow the trilateral strategic dialogue with the United States, including its evolving trilateral security and defense cooperation process, to move forward. ¶5. (C) ACTION REQUESTED: Embassy requests the Department to: (a) consider issuing a statement at an appropriate level welcoming the Australia-Japan Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation following its announcement in Tokyo on March 13; and (b) provide press guidance for use by Tokyo and Canberra in response to media inquiries. ¶6. (C) Text of agreement follows below: CANBERRA 00000334 002.2 OF 004 Begin text: Draft - not for release until 13 March 2007 Australia - Japan Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation The Prime Ministers of Australia and Japan, Affirming that the strategic partnership between Australia and Japan is based on democratic values, a commitment to human rights, freedom and the rule of law, as well as shared security interests, mutual respect, trust and deep friendship; Committing to the continuing development of their strategic partnership to reflect shared values and interests; Recalling their on-going beneficial cooperation on regional and global security challenges, including terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, and human security concerns such as disaster relief and pandemics, as well as their contributions to regional peace and stability; Recognising that the future security and prosperity of both Australia and Japan is linked to the secure future of the Asia-Pacific region and beyond; Affirming their common purpose in working together, and with other countries through such fora as Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC),the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF),and the East Asia Summit (EAS),to achieve the objective of a prosperous, open and secure Asia-Pacific region, and recognising that strengthened bilateral security cooperation will make a significant contribution in this context; Committing to increasing practical cooperation between the defence forces and other security related agencies of Australia and Japan, including through strengthening the regular and constructive exchange of views and assessments of security developments in areas of common interest; Committing to working together, and with others, to respond to new security challenges and threats, as they arise; Affirming the common strategic interests and security benefits embodied in their respective alliance relationships with the United States, and committing to strengthening trilateral cooperation, including through practical collaboration among the foreign affairs, defence and other related agencies of all three countries, as well as through the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue and recognising that strengthened bilateral cooperation will be conducive to the enhancement of trilateral cooperation; Desiring to create a comprehensive framework for the enhancement of security cooperation between Australia and Japan; Have decided as follows: Strengthening Cooperation Australia and Japan will strengthen their cooperation and consultation on issues of common strategic interest in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. This includes cooperation for a peaceful resolution of issues related to North Korea, including its nuclear development, ballistic missile activities, and humanitarian issues including the abduction issue. Australia and Japan also recognise the threat to peace CANBERRA 00000334 003.2 OF 004 and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond posed by terrorism and will further strengthen cooperation to address this threat. Australia and Japan will also strengthen their cooperation through the United Nations and other international and regional organisations and fora through activities such as peacekeeping and humanitarian relief operations. Australia and Japan will work towards the reform of the United Nations, including the realization of Japan's permanent membership of the Security Council. The cooperation will be conducted in accordance with laws and regulations of each country. Australia and Japan will deepen and expand their bilateral cooperation in the areas of security and defence cooperation with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of their combined contribution to regional and international peace and security, as well as human security. Areas of Cooperation The scope of security cooperation between Australia and Japan will include, but not be limited to the following: (i) law enforcement on combating transnational crime, including trafficking in illegal narcotics and precursors, people smuggling and trafficking, counterfeiting currency and arms smuggling; (ii) border security; (iii) counter-terrorism; (iv) disarmament and counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; (v) peace operations; (vi) exchange of strategic assessments and related information; (vii) maritime and aviation security; (viii) humanitarian relief operations, including disaster relief; (ix) contingency planning, including for pandemics. As part of the above-mentioned cooperation, Australia and Japan will, as appropriate, strengthen practical cooperation between their respective defence forces and other security related agencies, including through: (i) exchange of personnel; (ii) joint exercises and training to further increase effectiveness of cooperation, including in the area of humanitarian relief operations; (iii) coordinated activities including those in the areas of law enforcement, peace operations, and regional capacity building. Implementation Australia and Japan will develop an action plan with specific CANBERRA 00000334 004.2 OF 004 measures to advance security cooperation in the above areas. Australia and Japan will further strengthen the strategic dialogue between their Foreign Ministers, on an annual basis. Australia and Japan will build on their dialogue between Defence Ministers, on an annual basis. Australia and Japan will enhance joint Foreign and Defence Ministry dialogue, including through the establishment of a regular Ministerial dialogue. Signed at Tokyo this 13th day of March, 2007 JOHN HOWARD Prime Minister of Australia SHINZO ABE Prime Minister of Japan End text. MCCALLUM