Japan to test more advanced weaponry in Australia as ‘quasi allies’ deepen co-operation

Japan’s military will expand the test firing of missiles and other advanced weapons in Australia as part of a suite of agreements struck during a visit to Canberra by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

As a former senior defence official called for Australia to seek to lease Japanese submarines as a “plan B” in case the AUKUS pact falters, Foreign Minister Penny Wong insisted the government was committed to the plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the United States and United Kingdom.

After meeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Parliament House, Takaichi hailed the deepening ties between Australia and Japan, saying: “The two countries have built a relationship as frontrunners in co-operation among like-minded countries by advancing pioneering security co-operation at a level that could be described as quasi-allies.”

Takaichi, making her first visit to Australia since becoming prime minister, said the nations would upgrade their defence partnership by “taking advantage of the geographical characteristics of Australia”.

A joint leaders’ statement said the “testing of new equipment, advanced weapons and emerging technologies” would be a priority for Japan and Australia as they bolster defence ties.

Japan is rapidly increasing its defence spending to respond to the rise of China, and investing in advanced equipment such as long-range missiles and hypersonic weapons.

The leaders also agreed to work together on critical minerals, energy security and cybersecurity.

Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, plans to use her parliamentary supermajority to amend Japan’s postwar constitution, including by possibly renouncing a clause committing the nation to pacifism.

Japan conducted live-fire demonstrations of its surface-to-ship missiles in Australia during the Talisman Sabre training exercises in 2023 and 2025. Australia’s vast geography, including the Woomera test range, is appealing to Japan, given its small size and high population density.

“Our two countries have never been more strategically aligned,” Albanese said as he stood beside Takaichi.

“We work closely to advance our shared interests in a peaceful, stable and prosperous region, and I welcome Sanae’s commitment to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Reflecting their shared love of music, Albanese gave Takaichi a framed AC/DC drum head, signed by the band, reflecting her past as a drummer in a rock group.

Takaichi gave Albanese vinyl records as well as a muskmelon – a luxury fruit in Japan.

Albanese said he and Takaichi had instructed their ministers to explore ways to bolster co-operation between the two nations.

As reported by this masthead, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute published a report on Monday calling for Australia to examine leasing conventional diesel-electric submarines from Japan in case there were delays in the plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines through AUKUS.

“Japan possesses a large, modern, technologically advanced submarine fleet with, potentially, capacity to spare,” former senior defence official Richard Gray said.

Asked about the proposal, Wong said Australia was not pursuing an AUKUS fallback.

“We are focused on delivering AUKUS,” she said.

“It’s challenging. It’s a big task. It is meeting all these milestones, and we’re focused on ensuring we obtain that capability for Australia.”

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