Australia and Japan are ill-placed to strike a security alliance, but moves towards an agreement mark and advance in middle power co-operation aimed at keeping the United States engaged in the Asia Pacific as China's influence grows.
Last week, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison became the first foreign leader to be hosted face-to-face by Japan’s new PM, Yoshihide Suga, after his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, stepped down in September.
But was the visit worth the risk of travel in the midst of a pandemic?
Loading...
Ben Ascione is Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University. He is also the Japan editor at East Asia Forum and a research associate at the Japan Centre for International Exchange.
