Canadian Prime Minister Visits Japan, Japan Hopes Canada Becomes a Key Supplier of Rare Earths

From March 6 to March 7, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife will visit Japan. On the evening of the 6th, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takeda will hold talks with Prime Minister Trudeau, followed by a working dinner and the issuance of a joint statement. The core content of the joint statement is to develop a "comprehensive strategic roadmap" (action plan), clearly defining specific cooperation directions in six areas including strengthening defense cooperation, economic security, and energy security. Both sides will also enhance exchanges between Japan and Canada through regular visits between leaders and ministers.

Canada is a major resource country producing rare earths and liquefied natural gas (LNG), and it also has considerable production of important minerals such as copper and nickel. In addition, Canada's agricultural production, such as grains, is highly developed. In 2022, Canada formulated an "Important Minerals Strategy," beginning to focus on strategic investments in 31 types of important minerals. It is the only country in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that fully possesses all 12 defense essential minerals designated by the organization. Therefore, Japan hopes to cooperate with Canada in areas such as economic security, energy security, and food security. Especially at a time when China strictly controls the export of rare earths to Japan, Japan is at a loss, and Canada is expected to become an important source of rare earth supply for Japan. Canada and Japan are connected by the Pacific Ocean, so they do not need to pass through the East China Sea and South China Sea, thus ensuring a stable import route.

Against the backdrop of the Trump administration in the United States continuously taking military actions and other measures, which have led to the destabilization of the existing international order, Trudeau called for "getting rid of dependence on the United States" and "solidarity among middle powers (key countries)," thus drawing global attention.

On the 5th, Trudeau warned in a speech to Australian parliamentarians: "The issues facing middle powers like us today are whether we can establish norms that determine our security and prosperity and contribute to the formulation of new rules." "Otherwise, in the new world environment, the outcome will be dictated by hegemonic powers."

While Japan maintains the position of "not forming a new group without the United States" (as stated by government officials), it also hopes to strengthen cooperation with Canada, which is increasing its participation in Asian affairs, in the Indo-Pacific region and promote the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" strategy.

The draft of the joint statement emphasized the importance of Japan's "Free and Open Indo-Pacific."

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1858920876120076/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.