Don’t threaten us, Japan PM Fumio Kishida warns China

PM lashes China’s military tactics in air and sea space around Japan, vowing to fight to defend its territory and interests.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Picture: Getty Images

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has lashed China’s military tactics in the waters and air space around Japan and vowed that his country will fight to defend its territory and interests, in a wide-ranging and remarkably blunt interview on the eve of his summit with Anthony Albanese.

“Unilateral attempts by China to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas, as well as the expansion and increased vigour of its military activities in the vicinity of Japan, are of serious concern to the security of the region,” Mr Kishida said.

“Japan intends to resolutely and comprehensively defend our territory, territorial waters and territorial air space, including the Senkaku Islands.”

He said Japan would “strongly request that China take responsible actions”.

Mr Kishida was expected to arrive in Perth on Friday night. At a summit on Saturday, he and the Prime Minister will sign a Joint Declaration on Security. This will replace, and go far beyond, the 2007 Joint Declaration on Security signed by Shinzo Abe and John Howard.

READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF KISHIDA’S INTERVIEW

Though not a binding military alliance, the new declaration uses language strikingly similar to the text of the ANZUS Treaty Australia has with the US. It will call on Japan and Australia to consult over contingencies that affect each nation’s security and work out joint responses.

This agreement, which provides for the most intimate military co-operation ever between Japan and Australia, will enable joint training, joint exercises and a high degree of interoperability.

In written answers to questions from The Weekend Australian, Mr Kishida hailed Australia and Japan as “the core of a partnership of like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific”.

The Japanese leader is determined to push security co-operation “to a new level”.

Mr Kishida will also seek assurances that Australia will continue to supply Japan with key commodities.

“The export of resources and energy in the form of coal, iron ore and LNG from Australia to Japan, and the investment in those sectors from Japan to Australia, have underpinned the economic relationship between our two countries,” he said.

“Japan highly appreciates Australia’s role as a stable supplier of resources and a trusted destination for investment. Furthermore, co-operation on decarbonisation, including in the area of hydrogen and ammonia, is a new frontier for the Japan-Australia economic partnership.”

The two leaders are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on joint development of critical minerals deposits in Australia. Critical minerals are needed for clean energy such as batteries and other hi-tech applications.

Mr Kishida said he hoped the summit would set “the direction for Japan-Australia security relations for the next decade”. He also wants to enhance co-operation with Australia in joint efforts with the Pacific Island nations.

Following warnings from the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and other senior US ­officials, that China may take military action against Taiwan much sooner than previously thought, Mr Kishida also robustly condemned Beijing’s military intimidation towards Taiwan.

“A series of military activities by China in the vicinity of Taiwan in August, in particular the launch of ballistic missiles into the seas adjacent to Japan including into our exclusive economic zones, presented a grave concern to both the security of Japan and the safety of our citizens,” Mr Kishida said.

“We strongly condemned and objected to these actions by China, and urged China to immediately cease its military exercises that were seriously im­pacting on the peace and stability of the international community.”

Mr Kishida said Japan shared with Australia, and the G7 nations, the strong view that issues regarding Taiwan must be resolved peacefully.

He also condemned a series of missile firings by North Korea, especially a ballistic missile it launched on October 4 which flew over Japan.

Mr Kishida said these actions “threaten the peace and security of the region and the international community”. “Such actions are absolutely unacceptable,” he said.

However, he thought it likely that Pyongyang’s outrages could grow worse. “North Korea may engage in further provocative actions in the future, including another nuclear test,” he said.

Mr Kishida was critical of the United Nations Security Council for failing to carry resolutions condemning Pyongyang’s actions. Both China and Russia have veto power and generally prevent the adoption of seriously critical resolutions on North Korea.

As well as foreshadowing a new nuclear test by North Korea, Mr Kishida condemned Russia for raising the possibility of a new nuclear exchange.

“Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a threat to the very foundation of the international order,” he said. “Amidst this, threats to use nuclear weapons have contributed to worldwide concern that yet another catastrophe resulting from nuclear weapon use is a real possibility.”

Mr Kishida said the international community “should never tolerate the use of nuclear weapons by Russia, let alone the use of nuclear weapons”.

“We must ensure that Nagasaki remains the last place to ever suffer an atomic bombing,” he said.

Mr Kishida signalled Tokyo’s support for Britain to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Both Tokyo and Canberra are opposed to Beijing’s ambition to join the TPP.