Australia concerned over Beijing’s ‘destabilising’ actions around Taiwan, South China Sea: envoy
- Australia’s ambassador to Japan Justin Hayhurst said ‘any conflict or miscalculation or use of violence to change the status quo would be catastrophic’
- He added a ‘new initiative’ will be advocated at this month’s Quad summit to advance agendas such as regional defence and cybersecurity
The Quad summit among four major Indo-Pacific democracies is expected to be held on May 24 in Sydney.
The meeting will follow a Group of Seven summit from May 19 to 21 in Hiroshima, with Japan inviting Australia as an outreach country.
“At a time of uncertainty and risk, in the absence of very well-developed regional security mechanisms, then, partners need to work together in collaboration to protect and advance” their security, foreign policy and economic interests, Hayhurst said.
In the coming Quad summit, he said, a “new initiative” will be advocated to advance agendas such as regional security, maritime security and cybersecurity.
China has criticised the Quad, saying that countries should not form “exclusive and closed circles,” and that it is striving to establish an Asian version of Nato.
Amid such a deteriorating security environment, Japan’s parliament last month approved legislation for a defence cooperation agreement with Australia, in a veiled counter to China’s military rise and aggressive posture in the Indo-Pacific.
The pact sets rules for the transport of personnel, weapons and supplies. The ambassador said Australia expects to complete its ratification and conduct joint exercises with Japan by the end of the year.