MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Japan and Australia hailed Thursday’s new agreement to closely cooperate on defense as a breakthrough. It was the latest step in bolstering security ties amid rising Chinese military and economic power.

Fumio Kishida, the Japanese Prime Minister, and Scott Morrison (the Australian Prime Minister) met to sign a historic pact which has been in place for many years.

Australia is working together with the United States, India and Britain on strengthening defence ties in response to concerns about China. This includes its pressures on Taiwan and freedom of navigation within the region.

Morrison explained that Japan has signed the first Reciprocal Access Agreement, (RAA), with Australia. This will permit both militaries of Japan to collaborate seamlessly on defense and humanitarian operations.

Morrison declared that Japan was our most trusted partner in Asia, as shown by Australia’s special strategic partnership. It is the only such partnership – an equal partnership based upon shared trust between two great democracy committed to freedom and fair trade.

Morrison said to the Japanese leader that “The RAA” was a significant treaty. It opens up a new chapter of advanced defence and security coordination in a complicated and fast changing world.

A Japanese foreign ministry official said that Kishida called this agreement “breakthrough” but stressed that Australia’s security cooperation will remain an example for other countries.

Officials said that Kishida & Morrison had reached an agreement to try to bring up a 2007 Japan/Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation. It would set clear directions for the ties.

As President Xi Jinping attempts to claim China’s sovereignty over democratically ruled Taiwan, tensions over Chinese-claimed Taiwan are rising.

According to a joint statement, Kishida & Morrison stressed the importance peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. They also encouraged peaceful resolutions of problems.

Morrison stated that stronger ties were necessary with Japan “to face a new, even more difficult environment, especially within the Indo-Pacific”, before the meeting.

Japan signed a Status of Forces Agreement with the United States that permits the United States to have warships, fighter aircrafts, and thousands more troops stationed in Japan. It is part of an alliance Washington refers to as “the bedrock of regional security.”

Kishida was due to fly to Australia on Thursday, but he cancelled the trip because of a spike in COVID-19-related cases in Japan.