Richard Marles

Stories

AUKUS ships its first hardware

As of May 2026: Senior Australian minister steering AUKUS on both submarine and technology tracks

The Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) pact, unveiled in September 2021, promised nuclear-powered submarines not arriving in Australia until at least 2032. Five years on, the partnership has finally produced a piece of joint hardware, and it is not a submarine.

Updated May 31

Japan ends postwar ban on lethal weapons exports

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Signed Japan's first major lethal weapons export deal

Japan banned lethal weapons exports in 1967 and tightened the prohibition in 1976. On April 21, 2026, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet scrapped those limits.

Updated May 31

Chinese carrier jets lock fire-control radar on Japanese fighters near Okinawa

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Using the radar incident to deepen Australia–Japan security coordination

On December 6, 2025, two Chinese J-15 carrier fighters from the Liaoning locked fire-control radar on Japanese F-15s over international waters southeast of Okinawa. Japan's defense minister Shinjiro Koizumi called the lock-ons "dangerous" and "extremely regrettable," and Tokyo lodged a formal protest.

Updated May 10

Notable Quotes

"This is the most significant moment that we've had yet in relation to Pillar Two." — Marles, doorstop Singapore, May 31, 2026

from AUKUS ships its first hardware · Updated May 31

At his December 7 meeting with Koizumi, Marles described the Chinese radar lock near Okinawa as “a very worrying situation” and pledged that Australia would work together with Japan to respond.

from Chinese carrier jets lock fire-control radar on Japanese fighters near Okinawa · Updated May 10