The Australia Japan conference for the 21st century, jointly organized by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held over the weekend in Sydney highlighted concerns that the relationship between the two countries was stagnating, being compared to a "stale marriage between partners who take one another for granted."
This comment, coming from experts in the field of Australian-Japanese affairs, should not be taken lightly. Japan is Australia's No. 1 business partner.
Without our beloved "bed partner," the Australian economy would collapse.
Stoically rejecting claims that he has been sleeping with his back turned, Australian Prime Minister John Howard cited a 30 percent increase in exports to Japan over the last year as evidence that the relationship was not on the decline, in answer to the opposition. However, Howard last visited Japan in July 1999. Alternatively, it was in 1997 that the then-Japanese prime minister visited Australia.
Other important issues raised during the conference were: the perception that Australia was viewed by many in Japan as a quarry, an over-sized, under-developed farm, a virtual IT backwater that had more success with the development of golf courses; the opinion of Australian firms that the Japanese market was too difficult to crack, that a free trade agreement between the two countries could be explored and, finally, security measures for the future.
Examining the major point that Australia and Japan are bed partners in need of some foreplay to stimulate a renewed interest in each other is true to an extent. We do need some Viagra and what better stimulus than a meeting between the new Prime Minister Koizumi and Howard?
For Koizumi it offers the chance to project an image of a competent statesman with vision while for Australians it provides a chance to familiarize ourselves with him. Political analysts are interested to see if he has what it takes, many feel he is the right man for the job and an air of optimism surrounds his ascent. Not since Hashimoto has the world been confident of a Japanese prime minister.
Howard should be willing and sending out the invitation cards in the imminent future considering it is an election year. Australian voters are contemplating ending his term in office as shown by the defeat of Howard's party in two recent state elections. Howard, who is often criticized for not doing enough in Asia, could certainly do with the credit points a meeting with Koizumi would achieve.
Fundamentally, it is on the top diplomatic level that the relationship between the two nations needs nurturing. On a ground level the success of the last few decades is evident and only shows signs of improving.
In spite of the Hanson and One Nation Party movement and Howard's conservative contraction toward Mother England, Australians and, in particular, young Australians are learning to embrace Japan and not just in terms of Pokemon and sushi.
In Queensland, Hanson's home state, it is estimated that more than 80,000 elementary students are studying Japanese as a second language. Correspondingly, thousands of Japanese come to Australia to study English each year, as it is closer, cheaper and safer than the US or UK. Tertiary admissions for Japanese students in Australia were up by 7.2 percent over the last year and student visas issued to Japanese also up by 11.8 percent. Compound the educational drive with the wonderful working holiday program implemented between the two nations that allows thousands of young people of both countries to live and work in the opposing nation. It is impossible to quantify the value of this exchange. In the majority of cases it promotes a lifelong appreciation of the other that only serves to encourage future trade and social interaction.
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