Tokyo
Japan this week signed a major defense treaty with Australia, pledging to cooperate on counterterrorism, maritime security, border protection, and disaster relief. Japan’s only other such pact is with the United States. Japanese and Australian leaders stressed repeatedly that the treaty was not aimed at any other country—especially not at China. “We hope what they’ve said is true,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang. “In the meantime, we are not going to invade or pose a threat to anybody.”
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