Diplomatic sources reported on Saturday (August 23) that Australia and Japan are preparing to hold a “2+2” meeting of foreign and defense ministers in Tokyo on September 5 to discuss their joint development plans for new type escort vessels. This meeting is seen as a significant step towards enhancing defense cooperation between the two countries.
It was noted that Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles, along with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, will attend the meeting, while the Japanese side will be represented by Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and Foreign Minister Taro Kono.
Several Japanese media outlets, including Kyodo News and Nikkei Asia, have reported on this matter based on information from sources.
Earlier this month, Australia announced that it had selected Japan as its cooperative development partner for its escort vessel program. The project, with a budget of up to AUD $10 billion (approximately USD $6.5 billion), aims to build 11 new vessels to replace the aging Anzac-class frigates.
Kishi mentioned that Japan expects to finalize the agreement in early 2026.
Analysts believe that the collaboration between Japan and Australia could strengthen the deterrence capabilities of the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region, allowing them to collectively counter the increasing military activities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and the Pacific region.
Despite Japan’s constitution restricting its forces to self-defense purposes and nearly banning arms exports in 1967, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe relaxed these restrictions in 2014, allowing approvals for weapons exports on a case-by-case basis under strict conditions.
Under the current Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, exports are only approved under three conditions: the buyer not being subject to UN arms embargoes or engaged in ongoing conflicts, the transfer promoting international peace or Japan’s security, and Tokyo strictly controlling the ultimate use and third-party retransfer.
Earlier this month, Australia decided to choose Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ top-of-the-line Mogami-class escort vessels to replace the Anzac-class ships, marking one of Japan’s most prominent defense contracts to date.
Under the contract, Australia will receive 11 434-foot-long stealthy and highly automated escort vessels, with the first vessel expected to enter service by 2030.
In addition to Australia, Japan has been progressively expanding its arms sales market in recent years, including:
India: Signed an agreement in 2024 to jointly develop the “UNICORN” integrated communication masts, to be locally produced by India’s Bharat Electronics Limited.
Indonesia: Currently in negotiations with Tokyo to purchase eight Mogami-class escort vessels, with four to be built in Japan and four in Indonesian state-owned shipyards, with a total price of around $2 billion.
Philippines: Has received helicopter parts and radars from Japan and plans to acquire six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts following the introduction of the Mogami-class vessels, gradually phasing out and decommissioning the older ships.
These 357-foot-long Abukuma-class vessels will become the largest surface combatants in the Philippine fleet and will be provided through Japan’s “official development assistance” program as donations rather than sales, with some equipment removed.
In parallel, Japan is also collaborating with the UK and Italy to develop the next generation stealth fighter aircraft, intended to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Japan’s F-2, and compete with the US and China’s sixth-generation fighters. Senior executives of the development companies told Nikkei Asia in May that the progress is on schedule.
Corey Wallace, associate professor at Kanagawa University, told the Financial Times, “There are many second-tier or third-tier military powers that cannot afford American equipment. Japan now has a great opportunity to break through external factors and existing perceptions, becoming a major weapons exporter.”