State Department Sees Japanese Role in US-Australia Defense Pact

Japan would be a “capable participant” in the evolving US-UK-Australia defense partnership because of its investments in advanced defense systems, industrial-base improvements and cybersecurity protocols, according to an unreleased State Department assessment to Congress.

Japan “expressed interest in a range” of projects underway as part of the second leg of the so-called Aukus agreement that’s focused on technology sharing including “long-range anti-submarine warfare and autonomous air platforms,” according to the four-page document, a copy of which was made available to Bloomberg News.

The report, dated May 30, is labeled Sensitive But Unclassified. It is generally upbeat about Japan’s readiness to ...