Fading US Reliability Deepens Australia, Japan Security Ties (2)

Australia and Japan are tightening military and economic bonds as the region grows more volatile and long-time security guarantor US demands allies spend more on defense.

Canberra’s recent decision to buy 11 warships from a Japanese manufacturer is the clearest sign yet of the growing trust, enabling Tokyo to export cutting-edge weapons systems and share the related defense secrets for the first time. The deal also means more investment in Australia as Japanese firms set up shop to build most of the ships.

The move comes as both nations boost their defense budgets to counter China’s military rise, and respond ...