Following bilateral ministerial discussions in Melbourne and Sydney to launch the Australia-Japan Policy Dialogue on Telecommunications Resilience, Australia and Japan have further solidified their long-standing cooperation.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland welcomed Japan’s Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kaneko Yasushi to strengthen telecommunications resilience and security ties.

On July 14, O’Neil and Kaneko discussed a wide range of bilateral and Quad-based collaboration, including the potential to use essential and cutting-edge technology and create resilient and secure telecommunications networks.

O’Neil said, “I look forward to working together, harnessing opportunities generated by critical and emerging technologies, bilaterally, and through the Quad.”

O’Neil noted the importance of cooperation with Japan to maintain security.

She said, “I am pleased to work with Japan on the security of our telecommunications networks, particularly 5G and future connectivity. This cooperation is vital to ensure that our countries remain safe and resilient to threats of any kind.”

Meanwhile, Rowland is set to meet with Kaneko on July 15 to go through their respective experiences with satellites, submarine cables, and the 5G deployment.

Rowland said, “Australia and Japan share a vision of a digitally-enabled society where future connectivity drives substantial economic and social benefits for our citizens.”

The three ministers will sign a Joint Statement on Telecommunications Resilience and Security, establishing the Australia-Japan Policy Dialogue on Telecommunications Resilience and formalising telecommunications collaboration.

The policy discussion will complement Australia and Japan’s ongoing contributions to telecommunications security in the Indo-Pacific. 

It will be co-led by the Australian Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan.

O’Neil stressed the value of a solid economic and strategic partnership between Japan and Australia built on a shared commitment to the Indo-Pacific’s prosperity and security.

The home affairs minister said, “Japan and Australia are united in our vision of a prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific.”

“This is demonstrated by our commitment, today, to deeper cooperation on secure and resilient telecommunication networks,” she added..

This article was first published on CommsRoom

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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