Chinese State Media: "Japan-Australia Military Agreement is Another NATO Formation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo Yoo-jin] Japan and Australia, which cooperate within the four-nation consultative body 'Quad' aimed at countering China, are set to sign the 'Reciprocal Access Agreement' (RAA), a type of 'Status of Visiting Forces Agreement,' on the 6th. In response, China strongly opposed the move, claiming it targets them.

On the 6th, China's state-run media Global Times cited Chinese military experts warning that Australia and Japan should be aware that any attempts to harm China's core interests, such as the Taiwan issue or Chinese territory, will be met with countermeasures.

Chinese military expert Song Zhongping stated, "Japan and Australia have had low-level military cooperation, but this agreement will deepen the military relationship among the two countries and the United States," adding, "It is evident that military-technical exchanges among Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, including military resources and arms sales, will be opened to Japan."

He further said, "There is no doubt that this agreement is aimed at China," and predicted that Japan and Australia will jointly establish a maritime communication mechanism targeting China and operate from the Malacca Strait to the Miyako Strait.

Song Zhongping also harshly criticized, saying, "One plus one produces an effect greater than two," and accused the United States of trying to connect Japan and Australia to form another NATO in the Asia-Pacific region.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency)

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also indirectly criticized the agreement at a regular briefing the previous day, stating, "Cooperation between countries should enhance understanding and trust, not harm or target the interests of third parties."

Japanese media outlets such as Kyodo News and Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that the two countries' prime ministers would sign the RAA after holding a virtual summit the previous day.

Originally, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was scheduled to visit Australia to exchange the agreement documents with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, but due to COVID-19 disrupting Kishida's overseas visits, the meeting was shifted to a virtual summit.

The core of the RAA is to exempt entry inspections and customs duties on personal effects and simplify procedures for bringing in weapons and ammunition when the visiting forces of the contracting parties temporarily stay in the other country for joint training and disaster relief.

Accordingly, once this agreement takes effect, mutual visits by the forces of both countries will become easier, significantly improving the environment for joint training.

Chen Hong, director of the Australia Research Center at East China Normal University, criticized, "With the signing of the RAA, military cooperation between Japan and Australia will proceed more aggressively," adding, "This will increase regional tensions and the possibility of military confrontation, escalating risks and instability."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.