Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 4, No. 2, May 2023 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 192 AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN INCREASE COOPERATION IN BILATERAL DEFENCE IN RECEIVED ACCESS PACT AGREEMENTS Fauziah Firdaus Hanim, Yumetri Abidin, Irma Indrayani* International Relations Department Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Universitas Nasional Jakarta, Indonesia irma.indrayani@civitas.unas.ac.id Abstract; This study analyzes the Mutual Access Pact agreement between Japan and Australia. The method involves a combination of qualitative content analysis of official documents, agreements, and policy statements related to the pact and quantitative data analysis of defense collaboration activities between the two countries over a specific period. The study results reveal that the Mutual Access Agreement has facilitated increased bilateral defense cooperation, allowing for joint military exercises and operations in each other's territories. This development has strengthened the defense relations between Australia and Japan and responded to the evolving geopolitical landscape in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the face of China's growing economic influence. The findings provide valuable insights into the strategic importance of the pact and its implications for regional security dynamics. Keywords; Cooperation, defense, Australia, Japan, Reciprocal Access Pact Submission : January, 13th 2023 Revision : March 24th 2022 Publication : May 30th 2023 INTRODUCTION International Relations is defined as a global relationship that includes all relations that occur beyond the boundaries of state administration(Womack, 2010). According to De Ornay & Azizah (2022) International relations are interactions between state and state actors and state and non-state actors in the form of politics, economy, society, and culture to achieve the national interest of a country (Fatmawati, 2020). Therefore, a country needs other countries to fulfil their national needs and interests through cooperation and diplomacy(Saner & Yiu, 2003). International cooperation covers several fields, namely cooperation in the fields of economy, education, technology, and defence. In addition, the state also strengthens relations with a sense of friendship through good diplomacy with mailto:irma.indrayani@civitas.unas.ac.id Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 4, No. 2, May 2023 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 193 countries that undergo and participate in this cooperation, which can also impact each country’s benefits(Cheng-Chwee, 2005). Australia and Japan have a very strong cooperative relationship in developing democracy in the Asia-Pacific region. The close relationship between Australia and Japan occurs because of the closeness of each other to the United States of America. At a time when China became a country that influenced the Asian region with rapidly soaring economic growth, Japan had to strengthen its relationship with Australia even more. Bilateral relations between Japan and Australia have been forged from the 1980s to the 1990s which has become a priority for their foreign policy. This Australian cooperation is more active in regional economic diplomacy (Nuryadin, 2020). In addition to regional economic cooperation between the two countries, namely Australia and Japan, as well as bilateral defence cooperation, which will enable their troops to cooperate more closely, the United States' allies continue to strive to enhance Australia and Japan's relations in countering the development of China's aggressiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. This agreement is a development between Australia and Japan to maintain significant trade with China because Australia and Japan have strong and positive relations with all countries in the Indo-Pacific. The leaders of Japan and Australia held a meeting on November 17, 2020, to enhance defence relations between the two American allies to counter China's growing aggressiveness in the Asia Pacific region amid the leadership of the United States, Japan is committed to maintaining and deepening its 60-year-old alliance with The United States is the cornerstone of its diplomacy and security, but in recent years has sought to complement its regional defences by increasing cooperation with Australia due to increased maritime activity in the East and South China Seas (VOA:2020). Japan has considered Australia as its ally and the two countries cooperated in the defence sector in 2007 which was the first for Japan with a country other than the United States. Japan and Australia have reached a broad agreement to cement a defence pact to facilitate joint military operations and exercises, a pact called a mutual access agreement is a legal framework that allows Japanese and Australian troops to visit each other's military exercises in each other's territories (Newssetup:2020). This pact agreement also agreed on the need for a cooperative framework that would allow the Japanese military to protect Australian troops if necessary and vice versa Australia would also protect Japanese troops. This agreement became a type of defence pact for Japan and Australia as Japan's closest military partner after the United States. In general, Japan and Australia have entered into a defence agreement for approximately six years and this agreement has become a pillar of Japan and Australia's security cooperation. However, the agreement still needs to be ratified by the parliaments of the two countries. Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 4, No. 2, May 2023 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 194 LITERATURE REVIEW In this study, starting from assumptions in realism thinking, according to Thucydides's view, war and conflict are part of the relationship between countries and small countries controlled by larger countries(Chan, 2021). Realtime believes that in the international world there is a struggle for power from each country through its interests (Snyder, 1991). Classical realism argues that states have a desire to dominate other countries and encourage them to behave aggressively so that a balance is needed to fight against the aggressor state (Lumintosari & Kinarya, 2023). In this study, the author uses the theory of international cooperation initiated by Holsti (1996) that two or more interests, values, or goals meet each other and can result in something being promoted or fulfilled by all parties, agreement on certain issues between two or more countries to take advantage of equality or conflict of interest, the view of a country that policies are decided by other countries to help countries achieve their interests, transactions between countries to fulfil their agreement. This cooperation can be created as a result of adjusting the behaviour of actors in responding to or anticipating the choices made, this collaboration is carried out in a negotiation process held by each party. Cooperation in thinking realism can be done if the state has a common enemy caused by the emergence of a security dilemma. Actions that can increase the military power of another country to allow an arms race. METHOD The research method used in making this journal is qualitative. Qualitative methods are the focus of attention on various methods must be realized that the use of various methods or triangulation reflects an attempt to gain an in-depth understanding of a phenomenon under study (Denison, KN; and Lincoln: SY 2009). In general, qualitative research methods have two objectives, namely to describe and reveal and describe and explain. This method is also usually used to answer questions about the 'what, how, and why' of a phenomenon rather than asking 'how much. In addition, qualitative methods can be used to understand how an individual or group perceives a particular issue. According to Cresswell (2013) , the characteristic of qualitative research is that it has many sources of data and can be either secondary or primary data obtained from documents from the Japanese and Australian governments published in official governments. While secondary data is data obtained from various kinds of journal literature such as journals, books, and articles (Cresswell, 2013). The Data collection method chosen is a document-based and internet-based data collection method. Document-based data collection methods were taken from secondary documents in the form of books and research journals which were then reprocessed according to research Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 4, No. 2, May 2023 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 195 needs. Meanwhile, internet-based data collection methods are taken from websites and news portals the validity of the data used is actual. RESULT AND DISCUSSION Australian-Japan Cooperation The cooperative relationship between Australia and Japan has an important meaning for both of them, for Australia, the cooperative relationship with Japan has an important and beneficial role in policies that exist within and outside Australia. This cooperative relationship between Australia and Japan tends to reduce Australia's dependence on the United States because at that time the United States still adhered to a unilateral understanding (being one-sided). In 1957 Australia and Japan cooperated in the trade sector for the benefit of the economic development of the two countries. This cooperative relationship is abbreviated as GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade). Australia and Japan have agreed on several cooperations in the defence sector, such as the Japan-Australia Bilateral defence Cooperation and Exchange and The Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation. The first time Japan participated in a Joint Declaration in the security sector with Australia was at the Japan-Australia Summit Meeting in March 2007 (Initiatives of defence of Japan, Ministry of Japan). In addition to relations in the economic field, Australia and Japan also cooperate in the defence sector, relations between Australia and Japan have developed since Australia and Japan announced the Joint Declaration on defence cooperation in March 2007. By supporting the document, Japan and Australia agreed to continue to cooperate while pursuing and strengthening their cooperation in existing fields more effectively, this cooperative relationship between Australia and Japan has long cooperated in various aspects of engagement in the Asia-pacific region and the country of Australia has strengthened its policies in the wider Indo-Pacific environment. Then in 2010 Japan and Australia signed Acquisition and Crossing-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). Cooperation between Japan and Australia continued with cooperation in bilateral defence in 2017 which was signed Australia-Japan Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement. The agreement facilitates defence logistics support and cooperation in activities such as joint exercises and peacekeeping operations (Signing of the Australia-Japan Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement). It can be explained that the relationship between Australia and Japan has existed for a long time, Japan is a country located in the East Asia region that has trading partner relations with Australia, and the relationship between the two countries is of course not only beneficial to one party. However, the two countries, namely Australia and Japan, benefit from this cooperation, besides the cooperative relations carried out by Australia and Japan based on social interests. Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 4, No. 2, May 2023 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 196 Cooperation between Japan and Australia from 2007 to 2020 In 2007, Japan and Australia cooperated, namely the Joint Declaration/Japan-Australia Summit Meeting, Japan and Australia cooperate in three ways, namely creating a framework based on policy dialogue as well as training and exchanges from each concerned unit, developing a legal basis, and establishing non-participant support for the advancement of relations between Australia and Japan (Ishihara Yusuke:2004:97). Then in 2010 Japan and Australia signed Acquisition and Crossing-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), in the arrival of ACSA there was an agreement in three meetings of the Japan-Australia Foreign and defence Ministerial Consultation namely to provide standing service for the Japanese and Australian armed forces in peacekeeping operations, international disaster relief, and other activities. Furthermore, Japan and Australia carried out bilateral defence cooperation in 2017, namely the two countries signed the Australia-Japan Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, an agreement to facilitate defence logistics support and cooperation in joint training activities and peacekeeping operations (Signing of the Australia-Japan Acquisition and Cross- Servicing Agreement: 2021). And in 2020 Japan and Australia entered into a Reciprocity Pact agreement and agreed on the need for a cooperative framework that would allow the Japanese military to protect Australian troops if necessary and that Australia would also protect Japanese troops. This agreement became a type of defence pact for Japan and Australia as Japan's closest military partner after the United States. Australia and Japan Defence Pact Agreement After 60 years of Japan finally allowing foreign troops into its territory in this agreement, which is a step in the first agreement for Japan to cover a foreign military presence on its territory since agreeing to a 1960 troop treaty with the United States, Japan is working with Washington to deploy warships, fighter jets and thousands of troops in and around Japan as a regional military and security alliance (Republika.co.id:2020). The pact, also known as the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), is a partnership that allows Australian and Japanese troops to visit each other's countries and conduct joint operations training. This development in defence is to strengthen the defence relationship between the The Acquisition and Crossing-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) Coopertion in Bilateral defence in Recieval Access Agreements Joint Declaration/ Japan- Australia Summit Meeting The Australia-Japan Acquisition and Croos- Servicing Agreement 2007 2010 2017 2020 Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 4, No. 2, May 2023 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 197 United States' allies, namely Australia and Japan. According to the Japanese prime minister regarding the pact agreement, "In the Indo-Pacific region, defence and security cooperation between Japan and Australia have the will and capacity to contribute to regional peace which is increasingly important. The prime minister hereby announces that he has agreed in principle to the Reciprocal Access agreement which has enhanced Japan and Australia's security and defence cooperation (Reuters newssetup:2020). As well as the Australian prime minister's response to military cooperation with Japan “our special strategic partnership is becoming increasingly strong, in particular as it takes a significant step forward for Japan and Australia in an agreement in principle on a key defence treaty namely the Black Lead Access treaty” (Quoted from Reuters). The defence pact agreement between Australia and Japan does not directly mention steps to strengthen defence against China's military influence in the surrounding South China Sea. Because Japan and Australia are having an unfavourable relationship with China, this relationship is not good because during the Japanese war in China and sovereignty disputes, Japan has launched the vision of "Free and Open Indo-Pacific", this vision aims to increase connectivity between Asia and Africa through a free and open Indo-Pacific to promote stability and prosperity in the region. the dynamics of the world that sustains half the world's population to achieve stable and independent development in the region requires world stability and prosperity. There are three pillars in the vision of Japan (Free and Open Indo- Pacific) namely (the Ministry of defence). 1. Spread and enforce the principle of law enforcement on freedom of navigation, free trade, etc. 2. Pursuing economic prosperity (improving connectivity, etc.). 3. Ensure peace and stability. Australia's role in the Indo-Pacific in its foreign policy is in a white paper that explains how Australia sees its future. The white paper maps out a framework of opportunities to promote an open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region where the rights of all countries are respected. Australia seeks to create an Indo-Pacific region free from coercion and abundant with opportunities for all parties based on clear and fair rules. Australia has a special strategy and several bilateral and trilateral partnerships with the United States and Japan to ensure stability and security in Northeast Asia remains a key goal in the Indo-Pacific strategy. In cooperation between Australia and Japan in the defence sector to promote stronger relations for the two countries with the Mutual Access pact agreement to make cooperation that allows Australian and Japanese troops to visit each other's countries and conduct joint operations training. This development in defence is to strengthen the defence relationship between the United States' allies, namely Australia and Japan. The time required for this Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 4, No. 2, May 2023 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 198 agreement is approximately six years to be negotiated and needs to be ratified by members of parliament. With the agreement on the Mutual Access Agreement between Australia and Japan, efforts are made to minimize the dominance of China's influence in the region as well as the pros and cons that occur between Japan, Australia, and China which worsen relations between the three countries, that Japan and Australia are currently having a less favourable relationship. good relations with China, this relationship was not good because during Japan's war with China and sovereignty disputes, while Australia and China were not good because the Australian Prime Minister requested an investigation into the global Covid-19 pandemic and this made China limit export in Australia. Insee from the point of view of realism every country must have an interest in controlling small countries and their surroundings, and realists see that countries have a desire to dominate other countries and encourage them to behave aggressively so that there is a need for a balance to fight against the aggressor state. As seen from the views of the two countries, namely Australia and Japan, who think that China has dominated the Indo-Pacific region from an economic to the military point of view, to contain China's dominance in the region, Japan and Australia have strengthened their defences by collaborating with the Mutual Access Pact. This pact stipulates more efficient regulations to support the deployment of defence forces quickly and with less administrative control, in this cooperation, the two countries, namely Australia and Japan, have agreed on a framework that allows the two countries to protect each other's military forces. So that each country always controls every military exercise carried out by Australia and Japan, this can strengthen relations between the two countries. CONCLUSION The Mutual Access Pact agreement was made by Japan and Australia to achieve bilateral defence and facilitate more joint military operations and exercises and this development further strengthened defence relations between Australia and Japan. The pact is a legal framework for Japanese and Australian troops to visit each other and conduct joint military exercises and operations in each other's territory. Cooperation carried out by Japan and Australia aimed at establishing their mutual defence and strengthening relations between the two countries to secure their respective territories and help each other between the two countries. 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