Australia must keep Japan central to its future plans

Australia needs to ramp up its already strong ties with Japan in the face of rapidly accelerating economic, environmental, and social changes in both countries and a dramatically changing geopolitical environment, a leading expert from The Australian National University (ANU) says.

Associate Professor Shiro Armstrong, Director of the ANU Australia-Japan Research Centre, has made the call to action in a major new report, Reimagining the Japan Relationship.

Reimagining the Japan Relationship was commissioned by the Australia-Japan Foundation.

Key recommendations in the new report include:

• A joint Australia–Japan Energy Initiative that brings together government, industry, experts and stakeholder groups to accelerate and facilitate the energy transition.
• Australia’s designation of Japan as a most favoured partner, broadening the traditional definition of most-favoured nation to consider expanding to Japan equal best treatment in other relationships across all domains unilaterally. For example, granting similar working visa access to Japan as Australia may grant to the UK.
• Initiating Dialogues for Change that involve business, government, academia and community leaders focused on gender diversity and the movement of people.
• A Joint Australia–Japan Study by experts to frame the agenda for comprehensive security in the region.
• Expanding the New Colombo Plan to include a postgraduate stream.
• Investing in exchanges and study programs, leveraging the 107 sister city relationships and 553 sister school relationship.
• Introducing and rewarding qualifications in Japan-literacy and experience in the federal and state public service and industry.

Dr Shiro Armstrong is the Director of the Australia-Japan Research Centre and Director of the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research at ANU. He is also a Co-Editor and Co-Founder of both the East Asia Forum and East Asia Forum Quarterly.

Shiro’s research is centred on Sino-Japan economic and political relations, East Asian economic integration and international trade and foreign direct investment. He is the editor or co-editor of five books and has published widely in academic, policy and media outlets, including Foreign Affairs.
He holds a PhD in Economics from ANU.

For a copy of the report visit https://ajrc.crawford.anu.edu.au/reim…

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