Japan-Australia defence deal could add fuel to China-US rivalry, analysts say

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A “landmark” defence deal between Japan and Australia could further fuel competition between China and US-led allies and deepen worries that countries in the region may be forced to take sides, Chinese observers warned.

The prime ministers of Japan and Australia signed the Reciprocal Assessment Agreement on Thursday, allowing faster deployment of defence personnel to each other’s facilities and easing restrictions on transporting weapons and supplies for joint training and disaster relief operations.