Japanese may train with Australian troops

Australian PM Julia Gillard - Source: Reuters
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says Japanese troops could beallowed to train in Australian defence units under a new vision forgreater military co-operation by both countries.

The prime minister outlined her vision in The Weekend Australiannewspaper in an interview in Tokyo on Friday, saying she's open toexploring the idea of Japan's soldiers gaining direct experiencefrom their more combat-ready Australian peers, 66 years after WorldWar Two.

The Australian reported last year that Japan's Defence MinisterToshimi Kitizawa is keen for Japanese troops to draw on the combatexperience that Diggers have gained in East Timor, Iraq andAfghanistan.

Gillard said she had yet to receive a formal proposal, butsupports the idea being discussed by the defence and foreignministers of each country.

Although Japan's post-war military is restricted to self-defenceand peacekeeping operations, Tokyo is keen to boost its combatreadiness in response to a more powerful China and the growingthreat of North Korea.