Why is the Australia-Japan relationship important?

On Thursday 4 July 2024, the Perth USAsia Centre held a roundtable discussion with the Australian Ambassador to Japan, Justin Hayhurst.

As one of Australia’s top-five trading partners, a fellow member of the Quad (alongside India and the US), a front runner for an extended AUKUS, and a leading defender of the liberal rules-based order, Japan remains one of Australia’s most valuable partners in the region. This partnership is assuming increasing importance as Japan grapples with uncertainty in its immediate neighbourhood – facing historic tensions with China and South Korea, a volatile North Korea, and the question of Taiwan.

Ambassador Hayhurst joined us for a lively discussion on Japan’s energy transition, economic security, defence capabilities and investment, information and protective security transformation, trade opportunities for Australia, and our shared commitment to each other’s success.