Japanese and Australian leaders agreed on Monday (4/5) to increase collaboration to ensure a stable supply of critical minerals, energy, and other essential needs, amid China's dominance of rare earth metals and conflicts in the Middle East.
By releasing five documents from the meeting in Canberra, including a joint declaration on economic security, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese confirmed that the two countries would further promote cooperation in the fields of defense and cybersecurity.
Japan and Australia "have a strong commitment to contributing to peace and stability in the region and the international community" and are "pioneers of collaboration among partners who have common thinking," Takaichi said at a joint press conference after the meeting, describing the relationship between the two countries as a "quasi-alliance/quasi-alliance."
Albanese said leaders agreed to a range of "ambitious outcomes that comprehensively enhance our special strategic partnership" and the two countries "have never been so strategically aligned."
In a joint declaration focused on building resilient supply chains for rare earth metals, energy resources, and food products, the two countries expressed "strong concern" over restrictions on the export of critical minerals, which appeared to refer to China's recent tightening of export controls.
Rare earth metals are essential for high-tech products such as electric vehicles and semiconductors. China is said to mine about 70 percent of the world's rare earth metals and purify about 90 percent of them, while Australia is also known as a major producer.
Japan is heavily reliant on China for rare earth metals. Since the start of this year, Beijing has tightened restrictions on the export of dual-use goods, which can be used for both civilian and military purposes, potentially including rare earth metals.
The move was taken in response to Takaichi's statement in parliament in November that Japan could deploy its Self-Defense Forces to support the United States in the event of an attack on Taiwan.
Joint attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran since late February have disrupted global crude oil transport and triggered price increases, posing a challenge for countries that are highly dependent on oil imports such as Japan.
While Australia, known for its rich natural resources, is Japan's largest supplier of liquefied natural gas, the country is also heavily reliant on imports of oil products such as gasoline and diesel from Middle East crude-dependent Asian countries, following the closure of a number of refineries in Australia over decades.
In line with shared concerns over China's military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan and Australia have in recent years increased security cooperation, with the entry into force of a reciprocal access agreement in 2023 that allows for faster troop deployment and facilitates joint exercises.
Takaichi and Albanese also welcomed last month's announcement of a contract to jointly provide three of the first 11 vessels for the Australian navy, which is based on Japan's Mogami-class multi-mission stealth frigates.
The leaders of the two US allies also agreed to explore concrete steps until the next meeting to increase and institutionalize their comprehensive security cooperation, including in the field of economic security, Takaichi said.
Takaichi's visit to Australia, who took office in October, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the basic agreement of friendship and cooperation between the two countries this year.
Takaichi's five-day overseas trip since Friday also includes a visit to Vietnam.
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