Japan May Join AUKUS, US Seeks to Expand Alliance as Bulwark Against Beijing

America’s ambassador in Tokyo, Rahm Emanuel, has written in the Wall Street Journal indicating that Japan was “about to become the first additional Pillar Two partner” in AUKUS, joining Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. This would be the first expansion of the defence technology-sharing arrangement outside the original three partners. However, an Australian government source told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that Japan would collaborate on specific defence technology projects under AUKUS, but would not necessarily join the partnership as a full member. A spokesperson for Defence Minister Richard Marles declined to comment on Mr. Emanuel’s article....