TOKYO-(IDB) : Japan and Australia agreed Wednesday to
jointly develop stealth submarine technology, as Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe pushes his country toward a more assertive global military
role.
The submarine technology was a top item at talks among the
nations' foreign and defense ministers in Tokyo and was included in an
agreement to step up cooperation in defense equipment and technology.
Defense
Minister Itsunori Onodera told a joint news conference after the talks
that the ministers agreed to begin the research next year. It will focus
on technology that is applicable to any vessel including submarines, he
said, but declined to give further details.
"I have high
expectations for successful results," he said. Onodera said the research
and possible technology transfer would not violate Japan's pacifist
constitution.
Onodera and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida
were joined by their Australian counterparts, Julie Bishop and David
Johnston, at Wednesday's meeting. The four also agreed to strengthen
military ties.
The research aims to develop faster submarines with
reduced water resistance and quieter propellers, Japanese defense
officials said earlier this week. But the joint research will not
necessarily lead to the sale of Japanese submarines to Australia, which
is exploring purchasing submarines from Germany and France as well.
The
research, however, widens the possibility of Japan supplying military
technology overseas. The Abe government in April eased Japan's
self-imposed limits on military exports, paving the way for its largely
domestic defense industry to go global. Japan has also agreed to develop
hazmat suits with Britain, and is seeking to export search and rescue
aircraft to India.
Abe says the U.S.-Japan alliance remains
central to his security policy, but has widened defense cooperation with
Britain, France, India and several Asian-Pacific nations, particularly
Australia, amid an expansion of Chinese military activities in the
region and concern that budget pressures may reduce America's presence.
He
is trying to ease constitutional restraints so Japan's military can use
force not only in Japan's own defense but also to defend foreign
troops.
Onodera has said Australia has a strong interest in
Japan's submarine technology. Johnston is expected to tour a Japanese
Soryu-class submarine at Yokosuka naval port, south of Tokyo, during his
visit.
The 2,950-ton diesel-electric submarine is the most
advanced model in Japan's fleet of 16 submarines. It comes with
air-independent propulsion technology acquired from Sweden, and is armed
with torpedoes and Harpoon missiles.
"We would like the
Australian side to closely look at Japanese defense equipment so we can
build an even more cooperative relationship between Japan and
Australia," Onodera told reporters last Friday.
Australia is also
in talks with Germany and France about a 40 billion Australian dollar
($37 billion) plan to replace its Collins-class submarines.
Source : Yahoo