Joint Press Conference, Canberra

Subjects: Australia-Japan relationship; US-South Korea

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Welcome everyone here today, and can I particularly welcome my counterpart, my good friend, the Japanese Minister for Defence, Shin Koizumi. Today, we have had our fourth meeting under the Framework for Strategic Defence Coordination, a mechanism that we established in Tokyo last December, and at a time in the world where our strategic landscape is challenging and volatile, we deeply appreciate the relationship that we have with Japan. We have never been more strategically aligned. There is no country with whom we have greater strategic alignment than Japan, and our engagement together is underpinned by complete trust, and that has very much been a feature of the conversation that we have had today. Today, we have agreed to continue to advance the information sharing that we are undertaking between our two defence forces. We've also agreed to the very fast tempo and deep tempo of defence exercises between our two countries. And to that end, over the last couple of months, Darwin has hosted F-35s from the Japanese Air Force that have participated in two exercises: Exercise Southern Cross, which was a trilateral exercise between our two countries and the United States, and then, of course, Exercise Pitch Black, which is our major air exercise involving Australia and 20 other countries. But across those two, it meant that there were Japanese F-35s in Darwin for the better part of two months. I had the pleasure of being able to meet the crew of the F-35s, and I think a couple of the Japanese E-3s. I sent Shin a photo of that meeting, and they did a fantastic job in participating in that exercise. Today, we've also talked about the progress of the Mogami-class vessel and the partnership that we have with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. We remain on course to see the first of those vessels in service in the Royal Australian Navy this decade, making it one of the fastest acquisitions of a surface combatant into the Royal Australian Navy in our history, and we could not be happier with the level of cooperation that we are having with the Japanese Government in respect of that, but also the level of cooperation that we are having with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. We had previously spoken about seeking to increase the level of engagement between our defence, science, and innovation sectors. Today, we can announce that through that collaboration, we are progressing a project which is called Boobook. Boobook is an Australian owl that can see very well in the dark. That's why we've called it that. But Project Boobook is about an enhanced laser capability that can be put on land combat platforms as well as littoral platforms, which gives greater protection and situational awareness by using lasers to optically detect incoming threats, and we're really pleased about that specific project. But it evidences the level of collaboration between our defence science and innovation systems. And then, really importantly, in terms of today's conversation, we have spoken and progressed Japan's use of Australia's missile ranges. Again, we have spoken previously about Australia being able to provide strategic depth to Japan across a range of areas, but one of them is the use of our ranges. Today, we have agreed to progress a better and enhanced arrangement between Australia and Japan for Japan's use of our missile ranges over the course of the next decade across a range of missile capabilities, including Japan's hypersonic missile program, and we're really excited about the progress that we've been able to make in respect of that, which I think is probably as significant a step as any that we've taken today in respect of our meeting. This is the fifth occasion this year that Shin and I have met. It's the seventh occasion that we've met in the course of the last 12 months. Shin and I would be in contact pretty well most days, one way or another. I have more contact with Shin as one of my defence counterparts around the world than anyone else, and that befits the very trusting relationship that he and I have at a personal level. But much more significantly, it befits the significance of our bilateral defence relationship today, which, in a very difficult world, has never been stronger.

KOIZUMI SHINJIRO, JAPAN’S MINISTER OF DEFENSE: Thank you, Richard. Today, we held a Defense Minister's Meeting with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Honourable Richard Marles, under the Framework for Strategic Defence Coordination. During the meeting, we discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation in line with the Japan-Australia Leaders' Statement in May this year. There are two new points to highlight. First, we confirmed that we will further promote cooperation regarding the use of Australian test ranges. If the Japan Self-Defense Forces are able to conduct test launches of stand-off missiles, such as hypersonic missiles, in Australia, it would be a groundbreaking development, second only to similar cooperation with the United States. We will therefore accelerate discussions towards realising this objective. Second, we welcome the successful completion of field trials in Australia of the prototype system for the Boobook project, the first co-development initiative between Japanese industry and the Australian Department of Defence, based on cutting-edge laser technology. We confirm that this achievement represents a significant milestone in bilateral defence industrial equipment and technology cooperation, and concurred on continuing to work closely together towards the project's success. This project is not only the first co-development between Japan and Australia, but also the first case in which Japan's defence industrial technologies have attracted the interest of a foreign government and progressed to international co-development in the defence field. Following the conclusion of the general-purpose frigate contract, it successfully represents another important step forward in deepening Japan-Australia defence equipment, technology, and industrial cooperation. I would like to express my appreciation to all those involved. The Ministry of Defense will continue to support the project's success. In addition, we welcome the steady progress of Australia's general-purpose frigate program and reaffirmed our commitment to continue advancing the project strongly, following the Mogami Memorandum signed between us in April this year. In addition, JGSDF participated in the exercises conducted in Australia, such as the visit of JS Kumano to Australia in April, JGSDF participation in Exercise Southern Jackaroo 26 in June, as well as JSDF participation in Exercise Southern Cross 26 and Exercise Pitch Black 26 from July to August. Through these activities, the Japan Self-Defense Forces participated in a range of training exercises in Australia across the land, maritime, and air domains. During Exercise Pitch Black 26, Deputy Prime Minister Marles visited and encouraged the JSDF personnel. We welcomed these active exchanges between Japanese and Australian forces, and confirmed our intention to further strengthen Japan-Australia and Japan-US-Australia cooperation through training and other activities, thereby enhancing our collective deterrence. In addition, we exchanged candid views on the regional security environment, including updates on our respective assessments of regional developments and cooperation among like-minded countries. Prior to the meeting, I also had the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Albanese. I conveyed during the meeting that Japan-Australia defence cooperation is deepening across all areas, and that I look forward to continuing close cooperation with Deputy Prime Minister Marles. Earlier today, I became the first Japanese Minister of Defense to visit the headquarters of the Australian Defence Force's Joint Operations Command. The headquarters maintains close cooperation with Japan's Joint Operations Command, including through the reciprocal exchange of liaison officers, and my visit allowed me to witness the strength of this partnership firsthand. This meeting marked my seventh discussion with Deputy Prime Minister Marles. I will continue to maintain a close relationship and work vigorously to advance Japan-Australia defence cooperation. Thank you very much.

MARLES: Thank you. So, as Shin has just said, today Shin has attended the Joint Operations Command at Bungendore, which is actually, of itself, a historic visit. We had a really great meeting with Prime Minister Albanese before we did our bilateral meeting, and this afternoon Shin will also be meeting some further defence agencies as part of this visit. Okay, so the first question is SBS's Rayane Tamer.

JOURNALIST: To both ministers, Donald Trump says after speaking with Kim Jong Un, he's ordered the Pentagon to scale back drills with South Korea because it didn't provide support to the US in its war with Iran. According to Korea local media, a Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry has said, "At a time when North Korea is advancing its nuclear and missile technology, we must not weaken our posture to respond to threats." What does this decision from President Trump say about the US's reliability as a security partner?

MARLES: Well, firstly, I mean, obviously, what the United States does is a matter for it. But let me be clear about a couple of things. Australia is very concerned about North Korea's nuclear program as well as its missile program, and we have consistently made that point. Indeed, when I was in Tokyo last year, I think there was a North Korean missile test which had just occurred whilst I was there. So, I mean, we are seeing that activity happen frequently, and we remain very concerned about it. And in respect of South Korea, we see South Korea as a critically important country in terms of Australia's bilateral relationship. Actually, in terms of the way in which we operate together, we have conducted trilateral meetings between Australia, Japan, and South Korea previously, and we look forward to further meetings between Australia and South Korea later this year at a defence and a foreign affairs level, and we see that we have a shared strategic alignment with South Korea, shared values, shared trust. I think in the challenging world that we face, and there are many challenges, North Korea is the author of quite a few of those challenges. We greatly appreciate our relationship with South Korea, but we very much appreciate our relationship with Japan, and it forms part of the context in which we have a stronger relationship today with Japan than we've ever had.

MINISTER KOIZUMI [VIA TRANSLATOR]: In the question about Donald Trump, the US President, we recognise his speech. In the surrounding countries, the missile enhancement and coercive and unilateral challenge to the status quo by the power country and North Korea and Russia's cooperation is getting stronger, and our environment in the region is getting really more challenging. And our cooperation between Australia, Japan, and the US is ever more important. And this has been the trilateral security framework of the memorandum for cooperation. The real-time sharing of North Korea missile information, and Freedom Edge exercise, we have actually accumulated our cooperation in a practical level. We would like to, based on this framework, continue to deepen our collaboration between our bilateral and trilateral collaboration. And, like Richard said, the security environment current update. We consistently and constantly share information closely between Richard and myself. And last time when I visited Brisbane, before I returned to Japan, just that timing, North Korea launched the missile, and at that time, I actually was informed and had a press conference at Brisbane Airport in the given circumstances, and that's what I would like to keep coordinating.

JOURNALIST: Can I also ask, your discussion with Prime Minister Albanese, did the controversy around the Melon gift appear in the conversation, and has that impacted the relationship between the two countries?

MINISTER KOIZUMI [VIA TRANSLATOR]: No, there was not such a discussion today. Before I visited Australia, the Australian side had already [inaudible] the Japanese side that Mr Albanese actually said- my explanation was that he did not really mean it that way. And together with Prime Minister Takaichi, this security cooperation I would like– together with Deputy Prime Minister Marles, we would like to conclude it with a very secure outcome.

MARLES: Could I just also add, in respect of your first question, I should also make the obvious point: our alliance with the United States is fundamentally important in terms of providing a contribution to the peace and stability of the Indo‑Pacific. And I'm sure that is how Japan sees its alliance with the United States as well. We are deeply embedded in the Indo‑Pacific Command of the United States with representation at a deputy commander level in the US Army in the Pacific, the US Navy in the Pacific, and the US Air Force in the Pacific. So our alliance with the United States is profoundly important in terms of providing stability in the Indo-Pacific. In respect of your second question, the point I'd simply make is that you look at the substance of the meeting that we had today and the frequency of the meetings in which we are engaged between Minister Koizumi and myself, the relationship between Australia and Japan is at a high watermark. It has never had the level of depth and engagement that it has right now. We do, next to the United States, as much operationally with Japan as any defence force in the world and we do as much defence diplomacy together as we do with any other country in the world. And our tempo of defence exercises continues to grow at a really significant rate, as does our defence industry corporation – Mogami being an example, but also what we've announced today with Boobook. Our relationship is at a high point, and that is the fundamental point to make today. 

MINISTER KOIZUMI [VIA TRANSLATOR]: Sorry, I just said Brisbane that I visited in April, but that's actually [Melbourne], apologies.

JOURNALIST [VIA TRANSLATOR]: It’s the seventh meeting you're having, so in the context that China and Russia are becoming a threat, what sort of thing do you think in the Indo-Pacific region, what sort of role would you like? And then, since you two are a quasi-ally, what do you really think should actually be done to [inaudible] necessary? I'd first like to ask Mr Koizumi, I think you just met Mr Albanese– 

MINISTER KOIZUMI [VIA TRANSLATOR]: The relationship between Richard and myself– I’m sorry I made a mistake naming Brisbane, it’s actually Melbourne. I tend to mix up because we’re constantly talking to each other, so we have a very close relationship between the two of us. So apologies for that. But we consider our relationship as a frontrunner among likeminded countries. We consider Australia as a quasi-ally. We have to lead and commit to leading the region in our collaboration in defence to contribute to the Indo-Pacific region's peace and stability. And also the trade collaboration between two countries has become in various areas of new equipment, advanced weapons, and new technologies. This is the seventh meeting between Richard since my [inaudible] and this time we recognise the current difficult environment. And upon the leadership statement made in May between our two countries, we agree that we will continue to facilitate and promote, to realise concrete activities. And in terms of using Australian field training, it is a great thing. And also in Southern Cross and Pitch Black, we’ve had various joint training. So we also confirmed we would go for further cooperation, and it is not just bilateral. So we were thinking about Japan, Australia and America – a trilateral cooperation. And also, Mr Albanese in terms of what we discussed, I suppose we– I can’t really mention the details but the security of the area is also, of course, one of our topics and between myself and Mr Marles we would like to further deepen our cooperation. During this very busy time in Parliament and also Q&A, I really thank you for giving us the time to discuss this. 

MARLES: Well firstly, there's no issue in Shin confusing Brisbane and Melbourne because I come from Geelong. And so all that really demonstrates is that the next time we meet, we need to meet in my hometown of Geelong because no one will confuse that. But it does say a lot about how frequently Shin has been here. In answer to your question, I would say the relationship is underpinned by strategic alignment, by trust and by substance. And that's very powerful, those three together. We share as close a sense of the world as any other country that there is, and certainly that we engage with. You can see the level of trust that exists between our two countries in terms of how we talk, and how we operate. But what's really pleasing to me is that all of that is now being underpinned by substance. We had previously spoken, you know, when we first set up this framework in Tokyo in December, about the opportunity for Australia to provide strategic depth for Japan. Now we're operationalising it. We're actually seeing real Japanese use of the Australian continent in areas like maintenance and logistics, but very much the use of ranges, which is what we were focused on today. And it speaks to the fact that it's not just the sentiment, as important as the sentiment is, but this is now being underpinned by real substance and it's why we very much feel that this relationship is at the the highest level. You know, it is front and center in a very challenging world and we are deeply grateful for the relationship that we have been able to build with Japan. It's obviously a long-standing relationship, but the contemporary manifestation of it today is at the highest level that it's ever been. I'm very mindful that we've got Question Time to go to, so thank you all for your attendance today. Thank you. 

MINISTER KOIZUMI: Thank you. 

ENDS