U.S., Australia to 'integrate' Japan into defense initiatives: Austin

In Brisbane, Pentagon chief spotlights China's 'troubling' coercion in Indo-Pacific

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, left, and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles hold a news conference in Brisbane on July 28. (Photo by Ryo Nakamura)

RYO NAKAMURA, Nikkei staff writer

July 28, 2023 15:40 JST

BRISBANE, Australia -- The U.S. and Australia will work to "integrate" Japan into their bilateral defense initiatives, while China continues "bullying" behavior in the Indo-Pacific region, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Friday.

Austin met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles in Brisbane on the eve of the annual two-plus-two talks between top diplomats and defense officials, known as AUSMIN.