まゆの部屋

Japan should deepen ties with Australia
The Yomiuri Shimbun

From the standpoint of maintaining peace and stability in East Asia, Australia is a very important partner for Japan.

Furthermore, Japan depends heavily on Australia for imports of food and energy resources. Against this background, Tokyo should boost its cooperative ties with Canberra on both the national security and economic fronts.

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada is scheduled to visit Australia this weekend, and during talks with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, the two governments are expected to agree on an early conclusion for an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).

Such accords allow countries to provide each other with food and fuels, as well as transportation and supply services on such occasions as disaster relief operations and for U.N. peacekeeping missions. To date, the United States is the only country with which Japan has concluded an ACSA.

The Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military have often jointly participated in international assistance activities in East Asia. For example, they worked together for the peacekeeping activities that started in 2002 in East Timor and as part of relief operations in areas hit by the Indian Ocean earthquake in late 2004.

Based on an ACSA, the two governments would be able to lend each other necessary goods, thus allowing both sides to function more efficiently.

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Similar goals, concerns


Japan also is negotiating with Australia over a safeguard accord on secret information, with the ultimate aim of sharing security data. Should the two sides reach an agreement on this issue, the Commonwealth realm would become only the second nation with which Japan has inked such an accord, after the United States.

Japan and Australia have common security challenges in East Asia, such as maintaining the safety of the sea-lane through the Strait of Malacca and dealing with China, which has been expanding its military might.

Expanded security-related cooperation between the two countries, both of which are U.S. allies, will doubtless lead to stronger ties between Tokyo, Washington and Canberra--a triumvirate that could in turn contribute to stability in East Asia.

Areas of mutual economic concern also should be addressed.

Japan gets more of its natural resources--including coal, iron ore and uranium--from Australia than any other country. Japan also is the top importer of Australian energy resources and foods.

Though Australia gets most of its automobiles and machinery from China and the United States, respectively, Japan is Australia's third-largest supplier of such goods.

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Challenges lie ahead


During the foreign ministerial talks, Okada and Smith are expected to agree on the need to accelerate negotiations on an economic partnership agreement.

Nevertheless, the talks are expected to be tough going, as they will cover trade liberalization issues relating to such agricultural products as beef and dairy products. Considering the importance of securing stable supplies of food and energy resources, however, Japan could benefit greatly by concluding an EPA with Australia. We hope both countries make further efforts toward concluding such an accord.

Meanwhile, Tokyo and Canberra often have clashed over the issue of whaling: Australia is--in the main--an antiwhaling nation. Therefore, it is a matter of course that Japan should justify its whaling-related research activities, and bilateral relations should not be allowed to sour over the issue.

Ultimately, both countries must strive to deepen their cooperative efforts in areas where both can benefit.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 19, 2010)

(Feb. 19, 2010)