By Elishya Perera
SYDNEY (CWBN)_ Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, touched down in Tokyo earlier today, and will become the first world leader to meet in-person with Yoshihide Suga, since he was elected prime minister in September.
Morrison is on a two-day visit in Japan, and is expected to hold bilateral talks with Suga, on defence and maritime security, as well as the possibility of a Coronavirus travel bubble between the two countries.
“Japan and Australia are special strategic partners that share fundamental values and strategic interests,” Katsunobu Kato, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan said. “Political, security and economic cooperation will be among the main topics of discussion.”
During his visit, the Australian PM is also expected to conclude a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Suga to establish a legal framework to streamline each nation’s use of the other’s military bases.
The two nations, which have expressed concern regarding China’s vigorous maritime expansion in the Indo-Pacific region, have been negotiating the agreement since 2014.
Over the recent past, the defence relationship between Japan and Australia has grown stronger than ever; PM Morrison was the first foreign leader to receive a phone call from Japan’s new Prime Minister, ahead of US President Donald Trump, the leader of Japan’s closest ally.
Time and time again, Japan has criticised China in terms of defence, particularly regarding increased presence of Beijing’s coast guard vessels in the disputed Senkaku Islands, which has been administered by Japan since 1972.
Meanwhile, Australia’s economic disputes with China is growing day by day, as Beijing continues to place sanctions on products imported from Australia, and increasing Chinese sanctions are being reported from Japan as well.
Australia and Japan are members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, along with the United States and India, to counter possible Chinese expansions in Indo-Pacific. The four nations will be participating in the Malabar naval exercises from November 17 to 20. The large-scale military exercises will take place in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, which has been a hotspot for Indo-Chinese strategic competition.
After leaving Japan, PM Morrison will visit Papua New Guinea for talks with Prime Minister James Marape. It is reported that Morrison will quarantine for 14-days in Canberra when he returns to Australia and will participate in Parliament via a video link.
Edited By Chathushka Perera
