The deputy prime minister will discuss growing concern about China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait with Japan’s defence minister.
The Albanese government will seek to strengthen security ties with Japan when the countries’ two defence ministers hold formal talks on Wednesday, as fears grow of a possible clash with China over disputed waters in the region.
″We feel safer sitting at a table with Japan,″ said Mr Marles, who is also defence minister. “Australia and Japan share similar strategic circumstances. We deal with the complexity of the relationship with China.″ Mr Marles’ first trip to north Asia since Labor won the election also coincided with the latest warning from Beijing that it did not consider the Taiwan Strait international waters.
Experts said China’s willingness to intercept foreign aircraft in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait could lead to an accidental conflict.“A move to declare the Taiwan Strait all within China’s control fits with this trajectory of territorial assertion that simply rejects international law and the sovereign rights of other states,” said Michael Shoebridge, director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s defence, strategy and national security program.
While General Wei is not a member of Xi Jinping’s cabinet, known as the Politburo Standing Committee, he is the first senior Chinese official to meet with an Australian government minister in almost three years.China described the talks as an important step in repairing bilateral relations. However, some state media reports were sceptical on Tuesday about the chances of smoothing things over.
“We’re building this relationship with Japan on its own terms, and it’s never been more important. China is seeking to shape the world around it in a way that it has not done before,” Mr Marles told Nine’sJapan shares Australia’s concerns about China’s recent actions in the region. Mr Marles also met with Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno on Tuesday.