Japanese Ambassador Shingo Yamagami calls for an end to AUKUS ‘spat’ with France

The Japanese ambassador knows about submarine disappointment – but says Australia and France must bury their differences to focus on a pressing threat in our region.

There is no time to waste on political “spats” over the AUKUS submarine drama, the Japanese ambassador has warned, as tensions continue to rise in the Indo-Pacific.

Shingo Yamagami, Japan’s top diplomat in Australia, told The Advertiser he was “concerned” about tensions between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and French President Emmanuel Macron, which reached boiling point at the G20 summit in Rome.

Hinting at China’s “economic coercion” and growing unrest in the Indo-Pacific, Mr Yamagami said: “We don’t have any time to waste on continued spats between strategic partners on our side.”

“We have heard French grievances enough,” Mr Yamagami said.

“It is high time to move on, rather than dwelling on grievances – there is a bigger issue we have to address together.”

Japanese Ambassador to Australia, Shingo Yamagami, says there’s no time to waste on “spats”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

French President Emmanuel Macron accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying over the handling of the Attack-class submarine contract. Picture: Ian Langsdon/ AFP

On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Mr Macron accused Mr Morrison of lying to him over the decision to dump the $90bn Attack-class submarine contract in favour of a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

Back home, tensions flared when French ambassador Jean-Pierre Thebault labelled the decision a “stab in the back” that “torpedoed” the South Australian economy, in a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday.

Mr Yamagami suggested the public stoush would only benefit political adversaries in the Indo-Pacific, though he sympathised with France’s disappointment.

In 2015, former prime minister Tony Abbott was on the verge of securing a new deal to acquire a fleet of Japanese Soryu-class submarines, to be built in Japan.

But, in an effort to win over SA Liberals and hold on to his unstable leadership, Mr Abbott opened a tender process for the future submarines.

After overthrowing Mr Abbott as prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull selected France’s DCNS – now Naval Group – to build the new submarines, beating fellow bidders Germany and Japan.

Australia was set to acquire Japanese Soryu-class submarines before Tony Abbott was ousted from his Prime Ministership.

“There is no denying Japan was utterly disappointed at the time – I clearly remember the day the announcement was made,” Mr Yamagami said.

“Yet, Japan chose not to dwell on the submarine issue and move on from it.

“Taking on the broader view of the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, with a sense of urgency Japan chose to work to promote its strategic partnership with Australia.”

The first of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines, expected to be built in Adelaide won’t be delivered until 2038-2040. Mr Yamagami did not respond to concerns about possible gaps in Australia’s defence, but said Japan was now more willing to share its sensitive defence equipment to improve security in the South China and East China seas.

“The future submarine (project) is not ours, but if there is any other possible item to be pursued, we are willing to do so,” he said.

[e-mail]

Originally published as Japanese Ambassador Shingo Yamagami calls for an end to AUKUS ‘spat’ with France