Archives Australia and Japan - New Eastern Outlook

In late April to early May, Australia’s minister for foreign affairs, Penny Wong, went on a tour of East Asian countries, having visited Japan, China, and South Korea. The aim of this trip was Canberra’s desire to maintain a foreign policy balance among the region’s key players. However, achieving this goal is becoming increasingly difficult.

Recently, a number of noteworthy developments have taken place in the relations between Japan and Australia, both significant players in the unfolding game within the Indo-Pacific region.

The announcement made in early July this year about Japan’s plans to transfer six decommissioned destroyers to the Philippines marked a notable development in the evolving landscape of the Indo-Pacific region, where the current stage of the “Great Global Game” is increasingly shifting its focus.