{"id":68793,"date":"2021-11-23T11:00:46","date_gmt":"2021-11-23T00:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=68793"},"modified":"2021-11-23T11:01:58","modified_gmt":"2021-11-23T00:01:58","slug":"australia-needs-to-revamp-the-japan-relationship-to-secure-its-asian-interests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/australia-needs-to-revamp-the-japan-relationship-to-secure-its-asian-interests\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia needs to revamp the Japan relationship to secure its Asian interests"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/figure>\n

Prime Minister Scott Morrison\u2019s trip to Japan in November 2020 for a historic summit deepened a relationship with Japan that is Australia\u2019s strategic anchor in Asia; it was his sole official trip overseas in close to 19 months. The most important geopolitical, economic and security fault lines in the world run through Australia\u2019s and Japan\u2019s own backyard.<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s relationship with Japan has never been closer, and Japan is of growing importance to Australia. It is the world\u2019s third largest economy and is Australia\u2019s second largest source of foreign investment and third largest trading partner (it was second until commodity exports fell last year).<\/p>\n

The \u2018special strategic partnership\u2019 between the two countries rests on deep economic complementarity, shared strategic interests, and deepening trust and familiarity.<\/p>\n

But the Australia\u2013Japan relationship must be reimagined to cope with accelerating economic, environmental and social changes in both countries and a dramatically changing geopolitical environment. Australia must embrace Japan as a\u00a0\u2018most favoured partner\u2019\u00a0for the relationship to deliver on its potential to help deal with these challenges.<\/p>\n

There is no room for national complacency about how ready the relationship is to serve this purpose. In addition to the transformation of the economic relationship, much about the region\u2019s direction is yet to be negotiated and is too uncertain to take the present-day congruence of strategic outlooks between Japan and Australia for granted. The active, vital task of reimagination must be grasped by Canberra and Tokyo now.<\/p>\n

The energy trade underpinning the two countries\u2019 growing security relationship is already ebbing as Japan turns to decarbonisation of its economy. The shared strategic approach to China and the rise of global protectionism\u2014notably in the United States and Europe\u2014makes a far closer political and cultural relationship essential to both nations.<\/p>\n

Australia, Japan and the region face a rising and more assertive China and an increasingly inward-looking US that no longer commands economic or political primacy in Asia.<\/p>\n

The US alliance framework remains the bedrock of Australian, Japanese and regional security and stability. The Quad that includes India alongside Australia, Japan and the US reinforces that. But it is through open economic engagement that Australia needs to entrench US interests in Asia where US policies have been less supportive of the multilateral rules-based system. Japan shares those interests and brings serious economic heft to the task. Australia\u2019s experience in the face of Chinese trade coercion demonstrates to the world that the open and contestable markets that the multilateral system helps to guarantee significantly blunt the effect of intervening in markets for political or economic gain because it offers alternative markets and suppliers.<\/p>\n

The multilateral trading system is a vital strategic and security interest for Australia and Japan. It is also a crucial element in comprehensive regional security that integrates national security, economic and environmental sustainability objectives. This is the agenda to which the two countries must persuade their partners in the region, including China.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s thriving Australia\u2013Japan relationship cannot be sustained and elevated without substantial strategic investment from Australia. The old complementarities in fossil-fuel-based energy and raw materials trade will not sustain the relationship as they have done in the past.<\/p>\n

It is true that billions of dollars of Japanese investment now seek opportunities in hydrogen and renewables in Australia. That is the promise. Working closely with Japan, one of the world\u2019s largest energy importers, will bring technology and investment to Australia\u2019s trade and economic transformation. But that won\u2019t happen without substantial national investment and joint national strategies to encourage and facilitate the massive transition in our trade that needs to take place to encourage it. The challenge requires a joint Australia\u2013Japan energy initiative that combines government, industry, experts and stakeholder groups to accelerate and facilitate the energy transition needed in our trade.<\/p>\n

There are significant assets from both countries\u2019 investment in the relationship since its historic post-war foundation in the 1950s and 1960s. But the government-to-government, institutional and interpersonal ties that have serviced the relationship to date are not adequate to service the relationship now emerging.<\/p>\n

A huge investment is needed in building the capabilities to manage the new relationship with Japan\u2014not only to develop the familiarity with and understanding of how decisions are made, but to grasp how the levers of power and institutions work. That is an agenda that includes but goes well beyond Japanese language and Japan studies. Priorities include introducing and rewarding qualifications in Japan-literacy and experience in the public service and business; expanding the New Colombo Plan to postgraduate students; growing exchanges between officials; and a reverse JET program that brings Japanese graduates to teach in Australian schools.<\/p>\n

An improved Australian understanding of Japan will help both countries work together in managing the big geopolitical, economic and social impacts of critical and emerging technologies, including 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.<\/p>\n

Fully embracing the Japan relationship is a whole-of-nation endeavour for Australia\u2014one that will have to be led by the federal government but must engage all levels of government, the national cabinet, businesses and stakeholders across the community.<\/p>\n

Australia need not wait for reciprocity in these initiatives but is likely to find Japan a willing partner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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