Japan in Future "JAUKUS"? : F-35 Exchange.

Australia's government owned ABC News, December 9/10, 2022, reports in part:

"Australia's 'indispensable' partnership with Japan could see it join AUKUS pact as strategic links grow"

[Australian] Defence Minister Richard Marles has sent a clear signal that Australia would like Japan to be included in the AUKUS pact [with Japan it might be called "JAUKUS"] with the United States and the United Kingdom, declaring that security ties between [Japan] and [Australia] were becoming "indispensable".

Both countries have also committed to more complex and sophisticated defence exercises, including potentially rotating Japanese F-35 fighter jets in Australia in the future, in another sign of strategic convergence between the two countries.

Mr Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with their Japanese counterparts, Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Tokyo on [December 9, 2022] for their annual meeting dubbed the 'two-plus-two'.

[Sources claim] there is no chance that Japan will look to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under JAUKUS, Australian officials have made it clear that [Japan] could be included in separate work under [JAUKUS] develop advanced defence technology capabilities. 

…[Defence Minister Marles] “said both countries had "benefited from the United States' network of alliances" but were now "poised to build the Japan-Australia relationship as a powerful force in its own right" — citing two landmark security pacts signed this year.

This included the Reciprocal Access Agreement, which will allow reciprocal access for defence personnel to conduct joint military training and missions.

"The Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and the Reciprocal Access Agreement mean we now have the road map to take our partnership to a very different place — a better place," he said.

"Our partnership is becoming indispensable."

This deepening relationship was at a time when China was embarking on the "largest military build-up since World War 2"…Marles said. 

"This is the most significant factor shaping the strategic landscape in which Australia, and Japan exist." 

RAAF's F-35s to Japan for exercises

The joint statement from the defence and foreign ministers of both countries commits both nations to "accelerating the consideration" of bringing Japan's F-35s to Australia "with an eye to future rotational deployment of Japan's fighters including F-35s in Australia".

It also points out that Royal Australian Air Force F-35s will go to Japan next year for the first time to participate in military exercises.

The joint statement says both countries also want to discuss "enhancing the complexity of Japan Self Defence Forces' participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre" — a major multilateral training exercise in northern Australia.

It also flags conducting "submarine search and rescue training between the [Japanese Navy] and the Royal Australian Navy" as well as "amphibious operations, exercises and guided weapon live-fire drills".

(Standing left to right) Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Defence Minister Richard Marles with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada, in Tokyo for 'two-plus-two' talks on December 9, 2022.