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Japan
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Japan: a critical partner for Australia–US security ambitions
Japan and Australia are the two most steadfast allies of the US in Asia. Hayley Channer writes that the mix of traditional and non-traditional security threats provides a compelling logic for continued collective action.
The Tokyo Games will go on
With Tokyo and Okinawa now under a state of emergency, and the Tokyo Olympics less than two weeks away, up to 80% of the Japanese population is calling for the Games to be scrapped. However, Bill Emmott argues Japan's infrastructure leaves the country in good stead to both fight the virus and safely hold the first Games of the COVID era.
Suga's challenges
Last weekend’s G7 summit in Britain was the first major multilateral outing for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, a novice in foreign affairs. Japan expert Purnendra Jain writes Suga, the only Asian leader there, was able to return to Tokyo confident he had placed a Japanese and Asian stamp on the agenda of the rich-nations’ club. But at home Suga faces big domestic challenges that cast a shadow over his leadership.
An Olympic-size COVID risk
With Japan's vaccination program lagging behind US and European efforts and less than 40 days until the Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to begin, Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga is under intense public pressure to deliver a successful Games without further increasing COVID case numbers, writes Takatoshi Ito.
Biden-Suga Summit Signals a Shift in Global Focus
US President Joe Biden has confirmed a shift in US foreign policy priorities by hosting the first physical head of government meeting since he came to office with Japan’s Yoshihide Suga. But John McCarthy argues there are lessons for Australia in how Japan balances its relations with Washington and Beijing.