- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese pledged Saturday to join hands to tackle contingencies that may affect the sovereignty of their countries, amid China’s growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.
- In the latest declaration, Kishida, who began a three-day visit to Australia on Friday, and Albanese confirmed the significance of a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” a vision advocated by slain former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
- China, meanwhile, has been attempting to bolster its security and economic clout in the region to challenge the Quad and the free and open Indo-Pacific blueprint.
Japan, Australia to boost defense cooperation amid China’s rise
