CCTV9英语新闻：日本7月将首次参加美国和澳大利亚军演（在线收听）

Japan will join US and Australian troops in trilateral military drills for the first time, as the three states seek to boost security ties in the Southeast Asia region.

About 40 members from Japan's Self Defense Force will be integrated into the US troops to participate in July's exercises. Singaporean newspaper Lianhe Zaobao reported the Japanese soldiers come from Japan's Western Army Infantry Regiment, which specializes in defending and seizing remote islands in Japanese territorial waters. The Talisman Sabre biennial exercises take place in Australia or nearby areas every two years. 

This year it will involve about 30,000 US and Australian troops. Meanwhile, Australia is currently looking for countries to cooperate on designing and manufacturing new submarines. 

As one of the bidders, Japan is seen as trying to push weapons exports and enhance overseas defense cooperation through the military drills. The US has welcomed the cooperation between its allies Japan and Australia, as Washington benefits as well.