INTERNATIONAL: A Security Cooperation Treaty has been signed by Australia and Japan to beef up defense and security cooperation at a virtual summit on Thursday, January 6, in the latest move to strengthen ties amid China's rising military power and economic clout in the Indo-Pacific region.

The two leaders have signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had said it will, for the first time, set out a framework for the two countries' defense forces to cooperate with each other.

The strengthened security ties expand on efforts by the United States, Japan, India and Australia - dubbed the Quad - to work on shared concerns about China, including its pressure on Taiwan, trade disputes, and freedom of navigation in the region.

China has responded on Wednesday, January 5 by saying that bilateral treaties should promote regional trust, peace and stability.