Australia and Japan should not let ally lead them astray

In the trilateral relationship between the United States, Japan and Australia, ties between Tokyo and Canberra tend to be the weakest link. Under the encouragement of the United States, however, that link is becoming stronger, with the US making continuous efforts for its two allies to strengthen their strategic partnership.

On Wednesday, the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries concluded their "two-plus-two" talks, as they are known, in Sydney, stressing the need to bolster their defense ties, including increasing military joint exercises, amid what they described as the rapidly changing security environment in the region.

In their joint statement, the two countries announced they plan to stage their first-ever fighter jet exercise, dubbed "Bushido Guardian", in 2019. These overtures show although it is too early to say the two Pacific powers aiming to forge a military alliance in the true sense, they are certainly one step closer to becoming what what they are, namely "quasi-allies".