Powerful alliance in hard times

For half a century, there has been no doubt about the overwhelming importance of Australia’s close security and economic relationship with Japan. In a world under siege from COVID-19, those bilateral ties have assumed even greater importance. That was clear from last Thursday’s virtual summit between Scott Morrison and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at which both leaders pledged to work together to help countries across the Indo-Pacific fight the scourge of the pandemic.

Their commitment to support the region, in particular our Pacific and Southeast Asian neighbours, in managing the impact of the virus when China is making cynical attempts to coax many regional nations to sign up to its so-called “Health Silk Road” was important.

Despite COVID-19’s Chinese beginnings, Beijing has been making much of what it claims will be a Chinese-led global healthcare system aimed at dominating the world — the “Health Silk Road”, linked to the coercive Belt and Road Initiative. Mr Morrison and Mr Abe provided a counter, pledging to support health security across the region and assist in economic recovery and development.

Without mentioning China by name, the leaders also challenged Beijing’s determination to keep Taiwan out of the World Health Organisation and the World Health Assembly, despite the island nation leading the world in getting to grips with COVID-19. From a population of 24 million it has had only 451 cases and seven deaths. Mr Morrison and Mr Abe rightly drew attention to the shortsighted, self-serving foolishness of keeping Taiwan out, despite its outstanding record in fighting the pandemic. Beijing’s stance reflects its malevolence towards the hugely successful country it despises.

Given the extent to which the battle against COVID-19 and China’s brazen attempts to exploit it for its own ends are affecting every country in our region, it was always going to dominate the summit. But Mr Morrison and Mr Abe were also at one in expressing “grave concern” about the draconian new security law imposed by China on Hong Kong, and its erosion of the “one country, two systems” framework.

They also reaffirmed “serious concern” about “negative developments” in the South China Sea. That included the continuing militarisation of disputed areas and “the dangerous and coercive’’ use of coastguard vessels and maritime militia to disrupt maritime exploration by regional countries. Australia and Japan restated their resolve to ensure respect for freedom of navigation and overflying rights above the South China Sea, and their determination to see that all disputes are resolved in terms of the Law of the Sea. That is a notion China finds unacceptable.

The strong reaffirmation by Mr Morrison and Mr Abe of their support for the broader “Quad” strategic alliance that brings together Australia and Japan with the US and India, sent a powerful message. In an increasingly volatile region, the summit was a comprehensive meeting of minds.