By Kiyoshi Takenaka

TOKYO, Reuters – Shinzo Abe (former Japanese prime minister) said Friday that Japan should work with AUKUS partners Australia, Britain, and the United States on cyber intelligence.

AUKUS was signed in September. It will allow Australia to acquire technology for nuclear-powered submarines. This is widely considered a reaction to Chinese militarisation of the region, especially in South China Sea.

Japan is seeking to build ties and strengthen its defence position with allies the United States of America, Japan faces Chinese military expansion.

A key factor in realising an open Indo-Pacific is to ensure that like-minded nations have a long-term and mid-term relationship with the Indo-Pacific. “From this perspective, I salute the creation of AUKUS,” Abe stated in an address at an online forum.

It is vital to make multi-layered efforts for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Japan should be involved in AUKUS cooperation on areas such as cyber capability, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology.

Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister, stated that although AUKUS will initially be based on nuclear-powered submarines but all members of the alliance expect to speed up development and deployment of advanced defense systems, including cyber and AI.

Japan joins the Quad grouping along with India, Australia, and two AUKUS member countries – the United States and Australia. September saw the first meeting of Quad leaders, which brought together all parties with common concerns over China.

Abe stated that Japan and Australia need to strengthen their unique strategic partnership.

“Given the increasingly difficult regional security climate, Japan-Australia needs to lift bilateral security and defense cooperation to a higher level.”

Japan’s longest-serving prime Minister, Abe, was forced to retire last year because of ill health. He remained on the bench as a lawmaker, and this month he took over the leadership of the largest section in the Liberal Democratic Party.