2016 DEFENCE WHITE PAPER

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CHAPTER FIVE: POSITIONING DEFENCE FOR TOMORROW’S CHALLENGES
to strengthen practical cooperation. Australia will look to strengthen our
strategic dialogue, training and exercising as well as our cooperation in
capability development and defence materiel acquisition.
5.67 Our strong defence relationship is underpinned by a mutual interest
in working together with the United States and Japan to contribute
to security in North Asia and shared concern about the threat posed
by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear and ballistic
missile programs. Australia has increased its participation in Republic
of Korea-United States led multilateral exercises and will maintain this
commitment. Australia will continue to collaborate with the Republic of
Korea on non‐proliferation, disarmament and arms control measures that
uphold the rules-based global order, including through the Proliferation
Security Initiative.
SECTION TWO CAPABILITY
South Asia
5.68 India is a rising major power and Australia welcomes its increasingly
active role in Indo-Pacific security. Our shared interests with India
in areas such as Indian Ocean maritime security, regional stability
and countering terrorism – in addition to our shared democratic
values – form a solid basis for engagement.
5.69 Australia sees India as a key security partner in the Indian Ocean and
broader Indo-Pacific region. The Framework for Security Cooperation
announced in November 2014 reflects the deepening and expanding
security and defence engagement between Australia and India.
5.70 In line with the Framework for Security Cooperation, the Government
will seek to further mature our defence relationship with India in
support of our shared strategic interests. This will include pursuing a
regular program of strategic dialogue, bilateral training, and exercise
opportunities – including our first major bilateral maritime exercise
which was conducted in 2015. We will strengthen our cooperation in
maritime security, counter-terrorism, capability acquisition and defence
science and technology.