Japan and Australia have been strengthening their security relationship almost continuously from the end of the Cold War through to the present day. Originally, cooperation between the two countries centered on peacekeeping operations (PKO) and non-traditional security issues, but has gradually expanded even to encompass traditional security cooperation with an eye to military preparedness. Today, it is not unusual for the two countries’ relationship to be described as a “quasi-alliance.” Some consider that in practical terms at least, Japan-Australia cooperation is now comparable to a formal alliance.
Why has Japan-Australia security cooperation strengthened to such a degree? This article sheds light on this question primarily by examining three factors: the rise of China, alliance relationships with the United States, and Japan and Australia’s shared view of what constitutes a desirable international and regional order.
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