Golez: From the Philippines, Japan's PM Abe pivots to Australia for deeper defense relations:
"The deepening defence relationship between the two nations involves the signing of a logistics agreement and talks are expected to be completed by the end of the year on joint training, exercises and operations between Australian and Japanese defence forces.
"The move comes in the wake of Japan’s easing of restrictions on its military operations which were implemented post World War II."
"The deepening defence relationship between the two nations involves the signing of a logistics agreement and talks are expected to be completed by the end of the year on joint training, exercises and operations between Australian and Japanese defence forces.
"The move comes in the wake of Japan’s easing of restrictions on its military operations which were implemented post World War II."
Turnbull and Abe agree to deepen defence ties and push for Trans-Pacific Partnership
Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull shakes hand with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe after a joint press conference at Kirribilli House in Sydney. Picture: AFP
Australia and Japan have agreed to deepen defence ties and redouble their efforts to keep alive the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement as they eye China’s ambitions in the South China sea and the incoming Trump Administration’s perceived opposition to the 12 nation trade deal.
In talks at Kirribilli House in Sydney today between Malcolm Turnbull and Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister is also understood to have expressed Australia’s “disappointment’’ at Japan’s decision to send its whaling fleet to the Southern Ocean.
But both leaders were effusive about the strength of the relationship as they addressed the media after the meeting.
“We are all weather friends. We look to Japan as Japan looks to Australia as a reliable and trusted partner,’’ Mr Turnbull said.
“Our meeting has reinforced that the Japan Australia relationship is truly a very special strategic partnership,’’ he said.
“We’ve confirmed our commitment to the rule of law, free trade, open markets in our region, the foundation on which our prosperity and that of billions of other people in our region depends,’’ Mr Turnbull said.
Shinzo Abe and Malcolm Turnbull pose at a joint signing ceremony at the completion of the bilateral talks in Sydney. Picture: AP
The deepening defence relationship between the two nations involves the signing of a logistics agreement and talks are expected to be completed by the end of the year on joint training, exercises and operations between Australian and Japanese defence forces.
The move comes in the wake of Japan’s easing of restrictions on its military operations which were implemented post World War II.
In a clear signal to the incoming Trump administration, Mr Turnbull and Mr Abe said they would keep pushing for the early ratification of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal which president elect Donald Trump said during the US election campaign he would scrap on his first day in office.
In a joint statement after their meeting both leaders said the TPP remained an “indispensable priority because of the significant economic and strategic benefits it offers’’.
Mr Abe said Japan and Australia would “demonstrate to the world anew the importance of free trade’’.
“We confirmed we would co-ordinate toward the early entry into force of the TPP,’’ he said.
In a clear warning to China, both leaders expressed “serious concern’’ about the situation in the South China Sea
The statement underlined “Australia and Japan’s shared interests in freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded trade in the South China Sea and urged all parties to exercise self-restraint, and to avoid actions that would escalate tensions, including the militarisation of outposts in the South China Sea’’.
The two leaders also condemned “in the strongest terms’’ North Korea’s continued nuclear tests and multiple ballistic missile launches as “destabilising and provocative’’.
Mr Abe said it was “more necessary than ever before for Japan and Australia as special strategic partners to play a leading role for regional peace and prosperity as we both share common values such as freedom, rule of law and democracy’’.
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