New PM’s first international test

Joe Biden arrived in Tokyo on Sunday with an important message about further increasing US engagement with the Indo-Pacific region. The President’s concerns about the rising economic and military threat posed by China underline the importance of Anthony Albanese’s decision to attend Tuesday’s Quadrilateral Security Dialogue summit. The summit also includes Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It comes amid China’s upgrade of its navy, including completing its third aircraft carrier. Earlier this month, China carried out military exercises near Japan’s southwestern islands. It also practised an invasion of Taiwan, including sending ships to encircle the island. “Things have changed,” Mr Biden said in Tokyo. “There is a sense among the democracies in the Pacific that there’s a need to co-operate much more closely. Not just militarily but in terms of economically and politically.” Mr Biden warned Beijing was “flirting with danger” in relation to Taiwan and he made an unambiguous commitment to defend the territory against Chinese invasion. He also is supporting Japan’s decision to double its defence budget to 2 per cent of gross domestic product, the NATO benchmark.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Penny Wong left for the Quad summit after being sworn in on Monday morning. Before leaving, Mr Albanese reiterated his belief that Australia’s bilateral relationship with China would remain difficult because it was China, not Australia, that had changed. In Tokyo, Mr Albanese will sign Australia up to a new US-led Asia-Pacific economic bloc aimed at countering Chinese regional dominance. At individual meetings with Mr Biden, Mr Kishida and Mr Modi, Mr Albanese has an important opportunity to show his government will maintain continuity in Australia’s commitments to the nation’s security alliances. That includes the AUKUS security arrangement and the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. Amid deteriorating strategic circumstances, it is an advantage that the Albanese government is set to secure a majority in the House of Representatives and will not have to rely on Greens and teals, whose interest in national security is lukewarm.