Australia and Japan launch Pacific digital plan, boost defense ties

Australia and Japan will establish a Pacific digitalinfrastructureand cybersecurity initiative and expand their defense ties to includemore joint training and air force exercises, the countries’ defense and foreign ministers said on Thursday.

The announcements followed talks in the “two-plus-two” format heldin Queenscliff, south of Melbourne, buildingon the nations’ deepening ties in the face of concernsover what is seen as China’sincreasingly assertive stance in the region.