Australia and Japan are about to sign a defence pact. China says other nations shouldn’t ‘stir up trouble’
- Treaty will set out a framework to address ‘shared strategic security challenges’, according to Australian leader Scott Morrison
- Beijing says cooperation between countries should improve trust and regional peace and shouldn’t target any third party
The Reciprocal Access Agreement will for the first time set out a framework for the two countries’ defence forces to cooperate with each other in addressing their “shared strategic security challenges”, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said cooperation between countries should improve trust and regional peace and should not target any third party.
“The Chinese side believes that cooperation among countries should enhance mutual understanding, trust and peace in the region and should not target or hurt the interests of a third party,” Wang said at a regular press conference in Beijing.
“The Pacific Ocean is big enough for all countries in the region to develop. The peace and stability in the Pacific Ocean depends on the countries in the region,” he said. “We hope the Pacific Ocean can become a land of peace rather than waters in which people stir up trouble.”
