It does represent a big step up on the 2007 declaration signed by John Howard and Shinzo Abe and builds on the Reciprocal Access Agreement signed by the former Morrison government and Japan in January, which allows the partners to host each other’s military forces and increase joint training exercises.
Speaking after the signing on Saturday, Mr Albanese said it would shape security co-operation between the two countries for the next decade and confirmed that Japanese and Australian defence forces would now train together in northern Australia.
Critical minerals deal
The two countries also signed a critical minerals partnership aimed at building secure supply chains from Australia’s resources industry to advanced manufacturing in Japan and promoting investment in rare earths, nickel, cobalt, copper and other minerals needed in the electricification of economies.
BHP boss Mike Henry hosted the two prime ministers on a tour of the BHP nickel refinery and sulphate plant in Kwinana to underline the importance the countries are placing on battery materials.
Australia has also agreed to support Japan’s space program, which is planning an unmanned mission to one of the moons of Mars to collect samples. The space craft will be allowed to land at Woomera in South Australia if the mission goes ahead.
The new security declaration clears a path for greater intelligence sharing, military co-operation and training exercises.
Mr Kishida said Japan and Australia would consult and study possible responses to “emergencies” that posed a threat to regional security.
Defence force boost
Mr Kishida appears to have received assurances that Japan could rely on Australia for its energy needs as defence ties also boosted. NewWire
He also warned that Japan could use its counter strike capability to defend its territory and would boost its defence forces over the next five years.
“This declaration confirms that in the event of emergencies that may influence interest in terms of regional security, we will consult and study possible responses, and is of significant substance that will further deepen our security and defence cooperation,” Mr Kishida said in an address after the signing and his talks with Mr Albanese.
“Furthermore, I expressed my determination that all necessary options for the defence of our country, including the so-called counter strike capability would become contemplated and Japan’s defence capability will be fundamentally reinforced in the next five years, which is supported by Anthony (Mr Albanese).”
Mr Albanese said the declaration reflected a shared responsibility for “security in the region and towards one another”.
“Our commitment to consult each other on contingencies is a natural step in our efforts to support the security and stability of our region,” he said.
“As part of our increased security partnership, we also welcome today the announcement that Japan’s Self-Defense Forces will train and exercise in northern Australia with the Australian Defence Force.”
The signing came after private talks between Mr Albanese and Mr Kishida at Kings Park in Perth that were followed by a more formal leader’s meeting in the city.
High up on Mr Kishida’s agenda were concerns about the reliability of gas exports from Australia to Japan amid tension in the federal government about the domestic supply and price of gas.
Mr Kishida sought and received assurances from Mr Albanese that Japan could rely on supply under its contracts with Australian producers.
The talks and signing ceremony were followed by a business leaders lunch attended by executives from the major resources companies operating in iron ore and LNG-rich WA.
Japan relies on Australia for 65 per cent of its coal and about 36 per cent of its LNG supply with prices for both fossil fuels at sky-high levels.
Mr Albanese told a business lunch audience that included Beach Energy backer Kerry Stokes and Japanese oil and gas giant INPEX that Australia would increase co-operation with Japan across the board in an era of strategic competition in the region.
“We know that, historically, we’ve been important providers of LNG, coal and other resources. We remain a secure partner,” he said.
“Australia can be relied upon to always honour contracts and honour agreements. We believe that this is just the way that we do business.”
Mr Albanese and Mr Kishida also spoke about advancing renewable energy alternatives, in particular hydrogen, in the quest to reach net-zero carbon emission by 2050 and the importance of reliable critical minerals supply chains.
“When we talk about national security issues, we have to look beyond these days in 2022, beyond tanks and weaponry. We have to look at climate change and the threat that it represents to national security. We have to look at how resilient our economy is,” Mr Albanese said.
“Because one of the things that happened during the global pandemic was that it exposed some of Australia’s vulnerabilities. We need to make more things here. Japan needs to make more things in Japan.”
Japan Inc is already a big backer of Lynas Rare Earths, the biggest non-China supplier of materials essential in a range of modern technologies and defence applications.
Mr Kishida was due to fly out of Perth on Saturday night, barely 24 hours after touching down for a rare overseas visit during a sitting period for Japanese parliament.
Mr Albanese had made two trips to Japan since he became prime minister in May. The visit is also seen as a prelude to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue leaders summit in Australia next year.
Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Kishida Fumio confirmed that Japanese and Australian defence forces would train together in northern Australia.
As well as feeling the heat from China increased military activity near its shores, Japan is concerned about the threat of North Korea which earlier this month fired a missile over Japan.
Mr Kishida has reaffirmed Japan’s view, shared by Australia, that matters around Taiwan must be settled peacefully. Chinese President Xi Jinping last Sunday vowed to unify Taiwan and chief of US naval operations, Mike Gilday, this week raised the prospect of China invading the island within months.
Mr Albanese talked down the prospect of the new security and defence arrangements at a time of rising tension in the Indo-Pacific provoking a response from China.
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