Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CANBERRA334
2007-03-05 07:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:  

AUSTRALIA - JAPAN JOINT DECLARATION ON SECURITY

Tags:  MARR KTIA ASEC PREL AS JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4906
PP RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHBY #0334/01 0640728
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 050728Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7012
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 1262
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 8621
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY 7041
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 9139
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2616
RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 3913
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 0111
RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 2343
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 0003
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 1937
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0698
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)

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