Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.
Sheikh Qassem: The government’s latest decision [on the disarmament of the Resistance] is non-charter-based, and if the government continues down this path, it is not faithful to Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Japan, Australia sign security pact to counteract China

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Oct 2022 16:06
3 Min Read

Despite the newly inked pact, an expert claims that both countries don't have the abilities and tools to be involved in global espionage.

  • x
  • Anthony Albanese and Fumio Kishida (Reuters)
    Anthony Albanese and Fumio Kishida (Reuters)

In an attempt to counter China's military ability, Australia and Japan agreed on Saturday through a security pact to share sensitive intelligence and deepen defence cooperation. 

PMs Fumio Kishida of Japan and Anthony Albanese of Australia signed the accord in the Australian city of Perth, whereby the joint defence forces will train together in Northern Australia, and "expand and strengthen cooperation across defence, intelligence sharing", Australian officials said. This has been ringing bells of an old 15-year-old accord jointly drafted when terrorism and weapons proliferation were prevailing concerns.

Albanese commented that "this landmark declaration sends a strong signal to the region of our strategic alignment", as he praised the accord named "Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation". Kishida said it was a response to an "increasingly harsh strategic environment", but did not refer to China or North Korea by name.

When it comes to global espionage, neither Australia nor Japan have capabilities of overseas intelligence operatives and foreign informants required. Even though Australia's ASIO is only a small size of those organisations, Japan does not come close to an agency equivalent to America's CIA, Britain's MI6 or Russia's FSB.

Related News

China to showcase hypersonic weapons at WWII anniversary parade

Japan's exports suffer sharpest decline in four years amid US tariffs

However, expert and director of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, Bryce Wakefield stated that Australia and Japan have geospatial capabilities such as electronic eavesdropping tools and high-tech satellites that would come handy in espionage in general. 

Wakefield said the agreement indicates Japan's increasing activity in the security arena: "It is a significant agreement in that Japan hasn't overtly worked with partners outside the United States on security," adding: "It may actually end up being a template for cooperation with other countries, for example, the United Kingdom."

AUKUS formed to counter China

The US, UK, and Australia had formed their AUKUS alliance, ignoring China's concerns on the matter. The alliance was based on enhancing Australia's nuclear capabilities through advanced technology and nuclear submarines in order to increase the alliance's strength in the South Pacific as China grows more influential in its region.

This involved Australia canceling a submarine deal it had concluded with France, a move that Paris dubbed a "stab in the back." Consequently, France decided to recall its ambassadors to the United States and Australia. The row soured the three countries' relationship with Paris.

The US and UK agreed, under the aggressive anti-China, anti-Russia AUKUS pact, will supply high-end technology to Australia so that it can design and manufacture advanced nuclear submarines of its own. 

Criticisms have been surfacing, condemning Australia for merging its military activities with the United States, particularly its nuclear activities, despite being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). 

  • Japan
  • China
  • Security
  • Australia

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS