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US denies Japan invited to join AUKUS
The report is "inaccurate," Psaki said, noting that the top Japanese government spokesman has also denied the claim that Tokyo was approached over possible AUKUS participation.
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White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a daily press briefing at the White House on January 25, 2021 in Washington, DC. Later on Monday afternoon, President Joe Biden will sign an executive order aimed at boosting American manufacturing and strengthening the federal government's (Agence France Presse/Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
T
he United States, Britain and Australia are advancing their trilateral partnership over a range of advanced military capabilities, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday, denying a media report that the group is asking Japan to take part.
The report is "inaccurate," Psaki said, noting that the top Japanese government spokesman has also denied the claim that Tokyo was approached over possible AUKUS participation.
"Our focus has been on finalizing a trilateral program of work on a range of advanced military capabilities that align our priorities, amplify our collective strengths and accelerate the development and acquisition of leading-edge defense capabilities," Psaki said.
"It is not a 'JAUKUS' plan," she added.
The Japanese daily Sankei Shimbun reported Tuesday that each AUKUS member had informally asked Japan, a key US security ally, about the possibility of it joining the partnership, which was launched in September last year with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region amid China's growing assertiveness.
The newspaper also said that if Japan were to join AUKUS, which stands for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, the expanded partnership may then be called "JAUKUS."
Under the first AUKUS initiative, Australia will seek to acquire nuclear-powered submarines through technical cooperation with the other partners.
The leaders of the three countries also announced earlier this month a new trilateral cooperation on the development of hypersonic weapons and electronic warfare capabilities.
They have also said they will "seek opportunities to engage allies and close partners" as their work progresses on key defense and security capabilities.
Meanwhile, the office of South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-Yeoul on Thursday denied Japanese media reports that he had asked to attend an upcoming summit of the Quad, which includes the United States, India, Australia and Japan, as an observer.
"We have checked around about that report but it is not true and something that was not discussed with us," his spokesperson Bae Hyun-jin said during a regular briefing quoted by Reuters.
Asked about possible summits with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Bae added Yoon "welcomes" early meetings.
Yoon, who will take office on May 10, is working to map out his foreign policy directions, with a potential summit in Seoul with Biden during his Asia trip when he visits Japan.
