Ahead of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan and the UK agreed to strengthen ties in areas such as security, trade and technology. to strengthen. Both countries justified their determination to defend the international order in the Indo-Pacific region.

The deepening of what the two countries call a “global strategic partnership” comes against the backdrop of Britain’s increased engagement in the Indo-Pacific region in recent years.

Japan and Britain share concerns about the situation in the East and South China Seas

Britain deployed the Royal Navy aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth to Japan in 2021 and will join the TPP Free Trade Agreement, which also includes Japan and Australia.

In the agreement, both countries expressed serious concerns about the situation in the East and South China seas, where Beijing has further reasserted its territorial claims, including the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands.

They also called on China to behave responsibly as a member of the international community and strongly opposed any unilateral attempt to use force to change the status quo, apparently with Taiwan in mind. China regards the autonomous island as its territory.

SDF cooperation with the British armed forces

Citing a defense cooperation agreement to facilitate joint military exercises, Japan and Britain said they will work to improve interoperability between the Japan Self-Defense Forces and British forces.

In January, the two countries signed an agreement on mutual access to weapons, which sets out rules for transporting weapons during joint exercises or disaster relief operations in the other country. In December, Japan, Britain and Italy announced plans to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet by 2035.