The Japanese Defence Minister will fly to Australia this week for a visit to strengthen security cooperation, including on the massive Mogami frigate project, as the Albanese government works to move on from the recent “Melongate” controversy.
The West Australian has confirmed Shinjiro Koizumi will arrive in Canberra on Tuesday for talks with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles where the pair will discuss progress on production of the Navy’s new Japanese designed warships at Henderson.
Ahead of the visit, Mr Marles has flown to Papua New Guinea for his first meeting with the country’s new Defence Minister Elias Kapavore, just months after both nations signed the historic Pukpuk treaty.
On Monday, Mr Marles is scheduled to also visit Solomon Islands for a meeting with the country’s new Prime Minister Matthew Wale, a fierce critic of his predecessor’s decision to sign a security treaty with China.
Sources in Tokyo say the Japanese Defence Minister’s visit to Canberra will possibly be an opportunity for a senior Albanese government figure to privately apologise for the Prime Minister’s recent crass comments about their leader on a podcast.
In Parliament last week, Mr Albanese rejected assertions he had insulted Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for references to the female leader’s “melons” and resisted repeated calls to apologise for the remarks.
Last week, The West also revealed Japanese officials were surprised after confidential correspondence between their Prime Minister’s office and Anthony Albanese over his controversial podcast comments was leaked in Australia.
Ahead of his visit to Australia and India, Mr Koizumi has prompted his own diplomatic storm by visiting a shrine dedicated to Japan’s war dead, drawing rebukes from China and South Korea, which consider it a symbol of Tokyo’s military aggression.
Marking the 81st anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War Two, Mr Koizumi wore a dark suit and tie as he visited Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday local media images showed.
Despite the ongoing “Melongate” controversy, Mr Marles said Australia’s relationship with Japan remained strong.
“Our relationship with Japan continues to go from strength to strength, and I look forward to welcoming my good friend Minister Koizumi back to Australia this week,” the Defence Minster said.
“Together we will progress efforts to enhance defence cooperation and support our shared commitment to regional security, building on the Joint Statement announced by our Prime Ministers in May.
“This includes in the areas of co-developing and co-producing defence capabilities, advanced weapons testing, enhanced training and exercises, and increased information and intelligence cooperation.
“We’re also working closely together, alongside industry partners, to deliver Australia’s future general purpose frigates.”
After visiting Australia, Mr Koizumi will then head to New Delhi for his first meeting with Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on Thursday.
