Professor Gordon Flake Interviews the Hon Richard Court AC

Australia and Japan have a longstanding bilateral relationship underpinned by a commitment to democracy and international law. Informed by shared strategic and economic interests, the Australia-Japan relationship is regarded as Australia’s most mature in Asia. Japan is a close strategic ally and Australia’s second largest trading partner.

Japan has been successful in its COVID-19 response, successfully flattening the curve despite close links with its neighbours in Northeast Asia. Japan has been uniquely affected by the pandemic as it has been forced to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In addition to these developments, Ambassador Court discusses Japan’s position in the Indo-Pacific region and the way forward for the Australia-Japan Relationship.