MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The prime ministers of Japan and Australia have agreed to deepen cooperation in a wide range of areas including energy security, defense and critical minerals as a war with Iran threatens global supply chains.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Australian Parliament House on Monday, marking Takaichi’s first visit to the country as a national leader.
Gao Yi said that they had strategic discussions on issues such as China, Southeast Asia, Pacific Island countries, nuclear issues and North Korean abductions.
“The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had a huge impact on the Indo-Pacific region. We confirm that Japan and Australia will communicate closely and respond with a sense of urgency,” Takaichi told reporters through a translator.
Australia supplies nearly half of Japan’s LNG. Japan is one of Australia’s five largest suppliers of refined petrol and diesel.
Albanese has traveled to Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia in recent weeks to boost supplies of gasoline and diesel following supply disruptions caused by U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran starting in February.
Albanese said the bilateral agreement reached on Monday would benefit the people of Japan and Australia.
“For Australians, it means we won’t be as exposed to global shocks as we are now due to conflicts in the Middle East,” Albanese said.
“Our joint statement on energy security reaffirms our commitment to jointly address the current energy crisis and maintain open trade flows in essential energy products, including liquid fuels and natural gas,” he said.
The statement on economic security cooperation commits to consultations on emergencies, “including those related to geopolitical tensions, economic coercion or other significant market disruptions.”
The agreements also target China’s control and manipulation of global production of heavy rare earths, which are used to make powerful, heat-resistant magnets for industries including defense and electric vehicles.
“We express strong concern about all forms of economic coercion, the use of non-market policies and practices that lead to harmful overcapacity and market distortions, and export restrictions, especially on critical minerals,” the two countries said in a joint statement.
The two prime ministers “announced the promotion of critical minerals as a core pillar of our economic and security relationship,” the statement said.
Australia will provide up to A$1.3 billion ($930 million) to support critical mineral projects involving Japan.
The two Prime Ministers also announced new steps to strengthen defense and security cooperation between Japan and Australia.
Two weeks ago, the defense ministers of Japan and Australia signed a contract to deliver the first three ships in a A$10 billion ($6.5 billion) fleet of Japanese-designed warships.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the first three Mogami-class frigates in Japan. Australia plans to build eight more at a shipyard in Western Australia.
Albanese, an avid disc jockey who performs at charity events under the stage name DJ Albo, joked about the senior’s well-known interest in heavy metal music.
“Sanae and I will spend more time together later today and we will continue to discuss issues including heavy metal music and other important national matters,” Albanese said.