China: "The Pacific Must Not Be Turned into a Sea of Storms" ... Criticism of Australia-Japan Military Agreement

Australia and Japan Sign 'Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA)' Targeting China
Warning That US, Australia, and Japan Territories Also at Risk if Taiwan and Other Core Chinese Interests Are Harmed

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China has condemned the signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Australia and Japan, accusing it of being an agreement aimed at China. It also claimed that the RAA is a Pacific version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) envisioned by the United States.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The state-run Global Times reported that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will sign the RAA on the 6th. Once the RAA is signed, Australian forces and the Japan Self-Defense Forces will not need to undergo screening when entering each other's countries for training purposes, and the procedures for mutual import of weapons and other equipment will be greatly simplified. This is the second military-related agreement Japan has signed with a foreign country, following the United States.

The Global Times expressed concern that through the RAA, Australia and Japan will establish a maritime military system, expanding their operational range from the Malacca Strait to the Miyako Strait.

Military expert Song Zhongping explained, "The RAA between Australia and Japan is an agreement tantamount to a military alliance," adding, "It is an additional military alliance among Quad member countries, which is an informal security forum." He claimed that the RAA represents the Indo-Pacific version of NATO envisioned by the United States.

Zhou Yongsheng, a professor at the International Relations Institute of the China Foreign Affairs University, expressed concern, saying, "The RAA is part of the Japanese government's efforts to amend the constitution to explicitly mention the Japan Self-Defense Forces," and "With the signing of the RAA, the Japan Self-Defense Forces could advance into the South Pacific region."

Chen Hong, a professor at the Australia Studies Center of East China Normal University, pointed out, "Australia is sharing the role of the United States in the Pacific region by importing weapons from South Korea and signing the RAA with Japan," and warned that such moves by Australia will escalate tensions in the region and bring instability.

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, indirectly criticized Australia and Japan regarding the RAA signing, stating, "Cooperation between countries should not be aimed at third parties or harm the interests of third parties. The Pacific should not become a sea of storms."

The Global Times, citing military experts, warned that while the United States, Australia, and Japan believe their own territories will not be attacked, this is a completely mistaken belief, and if core Chinese interests such as Taiwan are harmed, corresponding measures will follow.

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