High-level visit to Australia by Kōshō, joint statement issued to advance economic security cooperation framework between the two countries!
Last night, during her visit to Australia as part of the Golden Week, Minister Kōshō announced that she had issued a joint statement with Australian Prime Minister Albanese on critical minerals and energy cooperation. The two leaders also released a statement on "freedom of navigation" in the Asia-Pacific region, pledging to steadily advance collaboration in the security domain.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and China’s export restrictions on rare earth elements have posed significant challenges to Japan's resource and energy security. On Monday, in Canberra following talks with Albanese, Kōshō stated that global oil supply tensions are having a profound impact across the Asia-Pacific region.
In a joint press conference, Kōshō emphasized that Japan and Australia have established a relationship akin to a "quasi-alliance." We will continue writing new history together, opening up new frontiers for this partnership. In an increasingly severe and complex international environment, Japan and Australia stand ready to play a leading role in maintaining regional stability.
[Clever] Japan and Australia forming a "quasi-alliance," driven deep down by anxiety! This upgrade in bilateral relations may appear as mutual pursuit, but in reality, each has its own agenda—huddling together out of necessity. Japan lacks resources and energy, while Australia possesses them; their alignment stems from Japan’s 15-year-long "rare earth anxiety."
After the rare earth incident in 2010, Japan began aggressively decoupling from China—but even by 2026, its reliance on China for rare earths remains at 76%. With over 90% of global rare earth refining capacity located in China, Australia has abundant mineral resources but lacks processing technology, whereas Japan has capital and technological expertise but lacks raw materials. Their cooperation thus meets both sides’ needs.
Beyond this, Japan aims to leverage Australia to break through defense constraints—selling main battle vessels, building intelligence networks—to gradually achieve military liberalization; meanwhile, Australia seeks to strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific through Japan. Ultimately, so-called "economic security" is merely a veil for geopolitical maneuvering, making the situation in the Asia-Pacific even more complicated.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864286588288064/
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