US and Australia talks 'should allow Japan to join AUKUS'

A new report from the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies said the AUSMIN discussions were highly likely to consider bringing Japan into the fold on agreements such as AUKUS to better prepare for any conflict in the Pacific. The report, co-authored by CSIS Australia chair Charles Edel and 24 other experts, said the talks should consider both allowing Japan into AUKUS and preparing studies into how Japan can be involved in responses to any invasion of Taiwan by China which considers the self-governed island part of its territory. "[They should] expand AUKUS cooperation on specific advanced capabilities to…