Japan's ambassador to Australia has expressed hopes of increased defense cooperation between Tokyo and Canberra, saying that the two nations must work together to prevent the Indo-Pacific becoming "a lawless jungle."
In an interview with The Australian newspaper published Monday, Ambassador Shingo Yamagami signaled an increase in joint military training, stating that greater interoperability between the Self-Defense Forces and Australia's military is vital because "at the time of contingencies, we have to work closely together."
The ambassador also said that Australia would not be alone in its fight against Chinese economic coercion, pledging to work with Australia and other democratic countries to provide "a counterweight against such a dominant power" after China imposed heavy tariffs on major Australian exports such as wine and barley in response to Canberra's calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.