S/ Koizumi Shinjiro, Japanese Defense Minister / Japan and Australia place importance on order based on the rule of law and will respond firmly and calmly to China’s actions, working toward peace and stability in the region.

During their talks, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles agreed to establish a new consultative framework to cooperate across a wide range of areas, including cybersecurity and missile defense systems.

The move is apparently aimed at addressing China’s increasingly aggressive behavior in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

Marles emphasized that Australia and Japan will work together to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region, adding he is deeply concerned about China’s moves.

As for a new type of vessel based on the Mogami-class destroyer that has been approved for export to Australia, they confirmed that they will continue close consultations toward signing a contract by the end of next March.