Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi held telephone talks with Australian Defense Minister Joe Duden on the 19th to exchange views on the situation in Taiwan as China intensifies military pressure. This is the first time since Nobuo Kishi became defense minister that he discussed the situation in Taiwan with a country other than the United States, which is rare.
According to the Sankei Shimbun, Nobuo Kishi held a telephone conversation with Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton on the 19th to exchange views on the situation in Taiwan. During the meeting, Nobuo Kishi stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and said he expected the Taiwan issue to be resolved peacefully through direct dialogue between the parties involved. Both men strongly opposed China’s attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas. In addition, they are both worried about China’s implementation of the Marine Police Act, which allows the Marine Police Bureau to use force.
The Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) also reported: Nobuo Kishi and Duden had a phone conversation on the 19th, which lasted about an hour. During the meeting, they both agreed that in order to maintain and strengthen the “free and open Indo-Pacific”, Japan, Australia and the United States, the three countries should strengthen defense cooperation.
In addition, both the Japanese and Australian defense ministers condemned the North Korean ballistic missile launch in March, and believed that all ballistic missiles of the North Korean range should be fully testable and irreversibly removed. It is necessary for Japan and Australia to strengthen cooperation to put an end to North Korea’s illegal transfer of materials at sea.
In a recent interview with Sky News Australia, retired Australian Major General Jim Dolan warned that a major military conflict between the U.S. and China is inevitable if China tries to take control of Taiwan by force, according to another report. Dolan added, “China aims to retake Taiwan by peaceful or forceful means, and we have to accept that fact.” “In order to achieve this project, China must take Guam and must incapacitate U.S. bases in Japan.” To him this sounds like a major war.
Duran argues that if the two superpowers go to war, Australia will face “a direct collateral attack from China. China would target Australia with missiles and cyber attacks, and attempt a naval blockade.
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