Japanese troops to join US marines on rotations in the Northern Territory

Japanese troops will join US Marine rotations in the Northern Territory, as the three nations deepen defence ties in a bid to counter China’s military strength.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles will on Sunday host US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japanese Defence Minister Nakatani Gen for the trilateral ministers’ meeting in Darwin - the first to be held in Australia.

Mr Marles, who is also the defence minister, said following annual “2+2” talks with his Japanese counterpart in September, both nations looked to how they could build greater familiarity between the their defence forces.

One of the “obvious opportunities” was for Japan to participate in activities during the US Marine rotation.

“We have spoken to Japan about having their amphibious rapid deployment brigade doing training with our own defence force, with our own army, and with the US Marines,” Mr Marles told Sky News.

“Having a more forward-leaning opportunity for greater training with Japan and the US together is a really fantastic opportunity.”

China’s expanding military capability has alarmed Washington and countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

Asked if the increased military co-operation would anger Beijing, Mr Marles said the decision was about building the nation’s capability.

“What we are focused on ... is building the best relationships possible with like-minded countries, with our friends and with our allies,” he said.

“Japan is obviously a country with whom we share values, a democracy.

“We have a huge strategic alignment with Japan. This very much came out of our bilateral meeting in September, but it’s been a theme of the conversations we’ve been having with Japan now for a number of years.”

Asked what message he would send to US president-elect Donald Trump’s pick for US defense secretary Pete Hegseth, Mr Marles said it would be that American leadership matters.

“If there is a world which is only determined by power and might, that does doesn’t leave a lot of space for most countries in the world, and countries like Australia,” he said.