Japan is one of Australia’s few real trusted friends in the region. China would have liked to exclude Australia from the East-Asia Summit but Japan’s support was decisive in making sure we got in. With South Korea we are two of the three key allies of the US in the region. In 2007 we signed a security agreement.
Japan’s strength balances China in the region in a simple prudent balance of power influence and ultimately force.
Japan-Australia trade is worth almost $60 billion a year.