「武器等防護」実施へ調整　日豪防衛相が一致、米国以外で初

　岸信夫防衛相は１９日、来日したオーストラリアのレイノルズ国防相と防衛省で会談した。会談後に共同声明を発表し、自衛隊が豪州軍の艦艇や航空機を警護する「武器等防護」の実施に向けた調整を開始することで一致したと明らかにした。安全保障関連法に基づく措置で、実現すれば米国に続き２カ国目。岸氏は記者団に「わが国の平和と安全および日豪防衛協力にとって重要な意義がある」と語った。（2020/10/19-20:55）

Japan and Australia on Monday agreed to start work on having the Japanese Self-Defense Forces protect Australian military assets including vessels and aircraft, an apparent joint effort to counter China's maritime advances.
   The agreement was reached in talks between Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and his Australian counterpart, Linda Reynolds, in Tokyo.
   If realized, it will be the second such defense cooperation framework for Japan following the one with the United States.
   The move is "of great significance to the peace and security of Japan as well as defense cooperation between Japan and Australia," Kishi told reporters after the talks.
   The protection of Australian military assets is based on Japan's national security laws of 2015, which opened the way for the SDF to protect equipment of U.S. and other foreign forces while using weapons to some extent.