US dismisses report of AUKUS parties urging Japan to join alliance as 'inaccurate'

report claiming that parties in AUKUS pact, namely United States, Australia and UK, have asked Japan to "informally" join alliance is completely "inaccurate," White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said on Wednesday. She was responding to question over a report by Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun  that claimed three members of alliance h unofficially requested Tokyo to join pact in order to help develop vanced weapons. dressing a press briefing, she rebuffed report, stating that "it is inaccurate."

Psaki's comment came after Japan-based newspaper reported that AUKUS parties were interested in a close partnership with Japan. Furr, it went on to d that members were expecting Japan to offer high-tech potential in cyberspace, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies in order to produce and modify tools of electronic warfare, including hypersonic weapons, which is one of initiatives under AUKUS. publication also stated that Japanese officials are divided in proposal over its feasibility and derivable benefits from US partnership amid growing pressure of aggravation from China and North Korea.

Japan denies reports insisting it recieved 'informal invite' to join AUKUS

Meanwhile, Japan on Wednesday denied Sankei Shimbun's article saying that "re is no fact" in report claiming Tokyo was "informally invited" to join pact. Tokyo's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno denied claims of report, ding that "Tokyo was not asked to participate."

said report cited several anonymous Japanese government officials, who me an unproven approach to such a possibility.

It is pertinent to mention that reactions from US and Japanese come after Sankei Shimbun on Tuesday reported that Tokyo was asked to be a part of trilateral military agreement that was formed last year in September between Australia, UK and US. said pact is largely seen as a military alliance to deter China's strategic influence in Indo-Pacific region. While initially deal only aimed to provide a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, last week, trio upgred provisions to include development of hypersonic missiles, a move supported by Tokyo. This comes at a time when Japan is alrey working on a special railgun that is believed to intercept hypersonic projectiles using electromagnetic force at extremely high speed.

(Image: AP)