QUEENSCLIFF, Australia — Japan pledged to strengthen military ties with Australia during a high-level visit Sept. 5. Tokyo’s top diplomat said the “like-minded” partners needed to stick together to combat shared regional threats.

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Minoru Kihara met with their Australian counterparts at an old military fort outside Melbourne, where they struck deals on greater air force cooperation and expanded military exercises.

They also agreed to jointly assist the Philippine Coast Guard, which is engaged in an escalating dispute with Chinese vessels in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

“Amid the increasingly difficult security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, we must continuously raise security cooperation between Japan and Australia to a new level,” Ms Kamikawa said after the meeting, boasting of a “like-minded partnership”.

China’s growing economic and military influence in the Asia-Pacific region – and its assertiveness in territorial disputes – has worried the United States and its allies such as Japan and Australia.

In recent weeks, Tokyo has accused China of deliberately sailing a warship through its waters and allowing a reconnaissance plane to enter its airspace.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the meeting raised “grave concerns” over recent “incursions” into Japanese territory.

The meeting resulted in broad agreements between Japan and Australia on strengthening air force cooperation and joint participation in military exercises alongside the United States.

Japan’s elite Quick Reaction Amphibious Brigade could soon join US Marine Corps rotations, based at a key northern Australian base near Darwin.

Defence Minister Kihara said Japan was considering the possibility of deploying its fleet of F-35 stealth fighters to Australian airfields, but added that no agreement had yet been reached.

“Regarding the rotation of Air Self-Defense Force aircraft, we would like to continue consultations between Australia and Japan,” Mr Kihara said.

Both countries have pledged joint support to the Philippine Coast Guard, though it is unclear what this assistance would consist of.

Japan and northern Australia constitute strategically important military gateways to potential flashpoints in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and South China Sea.

Both countries are part of the Quad alliance, alongside the United States and India, a grouping seen as a bulwark against Beijing.

Tokyo has recently shown interest in parts of the historic Aukus security agreement between Washington, London and Canberra – particularly those aimed at helping develop advanced military technologies.

Japan, a staunch pacifist for decades, is increasing its defense spending with U.S. support.

Meanwhile, Australia has embarked on its own military overhaul, investing money in long-range strike capabilities and developing nuclear-powered submarines. AFP