cooperation to the next level.
Japan and the UK will strengthen cooperation globally, and particularly in the
Indo-Pacific region, conscious of its importance to global security and prosperity.
Based on such common understanding, Japan and the UK will strengthen our
cooperation and partnership vis-à-vis common strategic challenges to the rules-based
international system.
1. Japan and the UK underscore the importance of maintaining an international
order based on the rule of law, and strongly oppose any unilateral actions that
seek to increase tensions or change the status quo by force or coercion. Today
the world faces an unprecedented threat from North Korea’s nuclear and missile
programme. Japan and the UK stand shoulder to shoulder in opposing North
Korea’s destabilising and dangerous policies and provocations. We will continue
to work together with our friends and allies towards the denuclearisation of the
Korean Peninsula and the strict and full implementation of UN Security Council
Resolutions.
2. Japan and the UK will promote timely exchanges of information and analysis, as
well as policy coordination regarding regional affairs, long-term strategies, and
international challenges, while paying attention to respective security concerns.
3. Japan welcomes the UK’s strengthened security engagement in the Asia-Pacific
region, including through visits by maritime, land and air forces, such as the
potential deployment of a UK aircraft carrier. The UK welcomes Japan’s proactive
approach to global security under its policy of “Proactive Contribution to Peace”
based on the principle of international cooperation. Japan will consider possible
opportunities to send its Self-Defense Forces personnel, aircraft or ships to the
UK for joint exercises.
4. Japan and the UK will strengthen the implementation of joint exercises through
bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral frameworks, and explore making them regular.
5. Japan welcomes the UK’s commitment to security of the Asia-Pacific region
through the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA).
6. Japan and the UK will enhance cooperation in providing each other with logistic,
technical, and professional support on the basis of the recently concluded
Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).
7. Japan and the UK will build on the ACSA and, as a priority, work on a framework
to improve administrative, policy and legal procedures to facilitate joint operations
and exercises between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the British Armed
Forces.
8. Japan and the UK will promote personnel and unit-to-unit exchanges, joint training
and exercises between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the British Armed
Forces.
2