Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has raised China and North Korean “nuclear missiles” with Anthony Albanese in high level talks shaped by wars raging across the globe.
Ms Takaichi, whose hawkish approach to China has spurred Beijing’s rebuke, is in Canberra to mark the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.
The treaty transformed a relationship defined by the trauma of World War II into an economic partnership worth almost $108bn in two-way trade.
Fronting a post-talks press conference alongside the Prime Minister on Monday, Ms Takaichi shared her vision of the Australia-Japan relationship in a “severe international environment”.
“Today, Anthony and I held the strategic discussions on issues beginning with China, Southeast Asia, Pacific Island countries, and responses to issues of nuclear missiles and abductions of North Korea among others, which pertain to the Indo-Pacific situation, as well as the Middle East, including Iran,” she told reporters.
“Amid the severe international environment, strengthening co-operation with our common ally, the United States is indispensable.
“We agree to further strengthen frameworks such as The Quad and Japan, US and Australia.”
The Quad is a four-way dialogue made up of Australia, India, Japan and the US.
Its purpose is to counter Chinese economic coercion in the region.
Ms Takaichi went on to say that Australia and Japan “now have a firm intention to contribute together to peace and stability of the region and the international community”, describing the relationship as “quasi-allies”.
“And through today’s discussion with Anthony, I am convinced that the next step, 50 years of Japan-Australia relations, will be even more robust and dynamic than the past 50 years,” she said.
The leaders signed a raft of statements pledging deeper co-operation across defence, energy security and trade.
Both pledged to support the flow of essential goods, including fuel and gas, between Australia and Japan as the countries weather economic shocks from the Iran war.
Australia imports almost 8 per cent of its diesel from Japan, making it crucial to government efforts to secure more supply for industry.
Japan in turn relies on Australia for up to 40 per cent of its gas imports.
Remarking that Canberra and Tokyo forged ties during global oil shocks in the 1970s, Mr Albanese said it was fitting that “again facing an energy shock and global instability” they “affirm the strength of our special strategic partnership”.
“Our partnership helps us secure the energy we both need, underpins the trade and investment that leads to more jobs and helps keep us safe in a more uncertain world,” he said.
Opposition industry spokesman Andrew Hastie said it was in Australia’s interest to deepen ties with Japan.
“It’s a good move, we obviously support it,” he told the ABC.
“We are not going to criticise our government for building partnerships with important Asian nations in the region.
“There is the issue of China and Japan’s relationship to it but I think it is important that Australia is at the table and we have a voice and maintain as many relationships with countries like Japan as we can.”
Asked about Japan’s more hawkish position on China, Mr Hastie admitted the “next decade will be a very challenging one”.
“There is no question whatsoever with the rise of China, China is flexing its muscles, and of course Japan is close to China, and there’s long historical tensions between China and japan,” he said.
“Australia has a role in the Indo Pacific region and I think we need to be a regional power that brings peace, and one of the ways we can do that is building and deepening relationships with a range of countries including Japan.”
