CANBERRA: Japan will send troops for joint training with US Marines and Australian forces in northern Australia, the three defence ministers said on Sunday as they expressed concern about a spate of confrontations with China’s increasingly assertive military.
Australia’s Acting PM Richard Marles hosted US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japanese Defence Minister Nakatani Gen for talks in Darwin. The ministers announced trilateral amphibious training between Australia, Japan and the US Marine rotational force in northern Australia from 2025, beginning with Exercise Talisman Sabre.
A joint statement reiterated “serious concern” about destabilising actions in the East and South China seas including “dangerous conduct” by the Chinese military against Philippine and other vessels from the region.