[As Japan and South Korea strengthen and expand the scope of their subordinate security relations with the United States, in China's shadow other moves are afoot across the Asia Pacific. Here Paul Kelly assesses the deepening Japan-Australia security bond that grows in part from their engagement in support of US war aims in Iraq.]

John Howard has long said Japan is Australia's most important relationship in Asia, so Alexander Downer's initiative for an Australia Japan security agreement possesses a political logic that seals a new history.