Errors and omissions excepted
Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister: Well, Minister Kamikawa, Minister Kihara, it’s an enormous honour and pleasure to have you in Australia for the Australian-Japan 2+2. And to have you close to my hometown here in Queenscliff, at Fort Queenscliff, which is a very historic part of Defence – from the heads of Port Philip Bay, which of course is the bay on which Melbourne is situated – and I can tell you a bit more about the history of the Fort later. But we meet at a moment in time where our countries have never been more strategically aligned, and where we consider, looking at the various strategic climates we have around and the countries around the world, there really is no other country in the world today that we have a closer strategic alignment with than with Japan. And it really makes the significance of this meeting profound. At the outset, I think we both want to express our gratitude to Prime Minister Kishida, during his time as the Prime Minister, in how the bilateral relationship between Australia and Japan has been advanced. We could not could not be happier. It has been a step change in the relationship and the degree which we are operating with each other across the entire spectrum of policy, and very much in terms of national security and defence. But in a sense, that needs to be the case, because we are, all of us, dealing with a global environment which is increasingly fragile, where the global rules-based order is being placed under intense pressure. We obviously see that in Eastern Europe and Ukraine, we see it in the Indo-Pacific as well, we see it in the South China Sea and East China Sea. We met last night, Minister Kihara and I, and there have been the recent incursions which you have experienced with the PLA. But we see it with North Korea and Russia. And so, there is a sense when we look at the world around us, that Japan is very much on the front line, and that our neighbourhood is one where we need to be working much more closely together and building that lattice of networks across countries which are determined to assert the global rules-based order, which is in all of our national interests.
To that end, Minoru and I had a really good meeting last night, and thank you for that, Minoru. We are doing more in terms of our exercises, in terms of our defence-to-defence engagement than we have ever done in our history, and we are really ambitious to take that to the next level. In some ways, I think that is the kind of mantra for this entire meeting, which is having got our relationship to a very close place, how do we now take the next step forward and really take it to the next level. And we are very excited about the opportunity to deal with a range of topics today about how we can take the Australian-Japan relationship to the next level. We are enormously impressed by what you have done in your bilateral relationship with Korea. That is something which took courage, but it has opened the door to so much engagement, including with us, which I think enables us all to do more, to build relationships of security across the Indo-Pacific. So with those few opening words, it’s great to have you here, we are both really thrilled to see you and we are very much are looking forward to our talks today.
Yōko Kamikawa, Japanese Foreign Minister (Translation): Today, after almost two years, we are able to hold Japan-Australia 2+2 meeting. I am so delighted. Just now, what we have heard, were very warm, heartfelt words and opening remarks from Deputy Prime Minister Marles. I fully agree with what you have told us. With Foreign Minister Wong, we are able to have this 2+2 meeting at this venue. I have been looking forward to the meeting at this historic site.
That we are able to have our meeting for our bilateral relations going forward, I believe, we will be able to put forward a very important message. Today, I am looking forward to a very intensive dialogue between us. Looking at the regional strategic environment, we see increasing difficulty surrounding us. We are being faced with the serious challenges, including unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. Against this backdrop, the Japan-Australia, security cooperation has been broader and stronger than ever before. Both our nations are maritime nations surrounded by sea. We are connected by the Pacific Ocean. Strategically speaking, we are in good alignment, with partners, including the United States, to realise a free and open Indo Pacific. For this, Australia is indispensable for Japan’s security. And as we are faced with regional development, we are becoming increasingly connected. Japan and Australia should constantly try to strengthen our security cooperation, to try to upgrade to even new dimensions. So, I’m looking forward for very frank discussion today so that we will be able to achieve a good result.
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Thank you Foreign Minister Kamikawa. It is a pleasure to see you and Minister Kihara it is such a pleasure to see you here for this 2+2 in Australia. It is an engagement that is essential for setting the future direction for our nations. If I could add a personal note, to what Richard, the Deputy Prime Minister has said, we understand, as politicians, what it means for you to make the effort to come to Australia at this time, at this time in your domestic politics, so we want to thank you for that. It demonstrates a depth of commitment, a strength of commitment to the relationship that we are very honoured to see, and we are very honoured to host you. We share that deep personal commitment to this relationship. As you and I have discussed, Foreign Minister, the very first thing I did after being sworn in as Foreign Minister is get on a plane to Japan. I have been there three times in the last nine months – and have been very pleased to do so.
The leadership of Prime Ministers Kishida and Albanese has seen our partnership develop. We have seen unprecedented levels of cooperation and delivery. We are doing more with each other than ever before, as the Deputy Prime Minister has spoken of. And we are doing more together in our region, in support of our shared vision for a stable, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific. You wrote today, in your article, Foreign Minister, that we are working hand in glove. And that is a good way of thinking about how we are working together. Can I take this opportunity to recognise the achievements of Japan during this period, whether it is the work you are doing in your US alliance, the work you are doing in the Quad, the work you are doing with ASEAN, the work you’re doing with the Pacific Islands Forum, and again to record our respect for the work you’re doing in your relationship with the Republic of Korea.
As you have said Foreign Minister, as the Deputy Prime Minister has said, this is even more important given the undermining of the security and resilience of our region. We are two great democracies. We share values and interests. We see growing threats of disinformation, of foreign interference, of cyber-attacks to our democracies We see the undermining of rules and institutions. We see growing military cooperation between China and Russia. We see Chinese efforts to normalise risky actions towards the Philippines and Taiwan. And of course, North Korea’s ongoing reckless and unacceptable behaviour that undermines your security but the security of our whole region.
Today is an opportunity to commit to even further action and greater inoperability, in the face of these challenges. Including on economic security, cyber, maritime issues, energy security and development for the benefit of the region. Our Special Strategic Partnership is a statement of ambition, but it is so much more than that; it is an expression of our enduring commitment, our enduring commitment to work closer together for our shared purpose. Welcome to Australia, Foreign Minister, Minister Kihara. We are very pleased and honoured to receive you.
Kihara Minoru, Japanese Minister Of Defense (Translation): That we are able to participate in this 2+2 along with Foreign Minister Kamikawa. And in organising this event, a tremendous effort certainly by the Australian side, for which I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude. Australia is a second only to our ally the United States. As a partner with you, we should strengthen our defence cooperation. And Australia and Japan are at the heart of our partnership of like-minded countries. And since the last 2+2 we have pursued a full range of defence cooperation, including strategic and policy consultations such as the cooperation and joint training, the RAA, and economic and technology cooperation, etcetera. And it is now more difficult to find an area where we cannot cooperate. The next stage for Australia-Japan is to establish an effective partnership between the JSDF and the ADF in times of peace to emergencies, and to work together with the United States to strengthen deterrence and response capabilities. Today, I look forward to an exchange of views between the four ministers on deepening Australia-Japan’s security and defence cooperation. Thank you.
