When we arrive at the end of one year and the beginning of the next, we are always tempted to engage in reflection to assess where we are, how we got here and we where are going. Upon reflection, I think the word that most captures the current moment is “multipolarity”.

It is an unfortunate coincidence that February 2020 and February 2022 hosted seismic events that have accelerated various decouplings ブラック ジャック 賭け 方he global arrangement. The COVID pandemic that began in China resulted in major efforts to establish new and resilient supply chains. Australia and Japan have committed to working together to be part of this new configuration that will enhance the sovereign capabilities of not just our two countries but of others in our region as well.

Nevertheless, ブラック ジャック 賭け 方hat endeavour the USA remained a central driver and hub. The Russian intervention in Ukraine has changed that situation. A bloc of countries, including Australia, Japan, UK, EU, South Korea and others have formed a unified group on the one hand. However, numerous other countries have not joined this group, including those that are major economic partners of Australia and Japan: China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, etc. This type of decoupling is much more complex and uncertain. It accelerates ブラック ジャック 賭け 方rend towards multipolarity that in 2023 will start to have more defined consequences.

ブラック ジャック 賭け 方his dynamic situation Australia and Japan have worked ceaselessly to forge stronger ties in 2022 especially ブラック ジャック 賭け 方he level of cooperation in intelligence sharing, defence and military and security. In October 2022 Prime Minister Kishida made a short but important visit to Perth to meet with Prime Minister Albanese to sign an updated Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation. The relationship has now reached a status just shy of being a formal alliance.

　　

Similarly, the formal tripartite AUKUS agreement, which Japan quickly endorsed, has elements that allow for significant Japanese input ブラック ジャック 賭け 方he important second pillar that focuses on technology sharing from AI to quantum and advanced cyber.

Japanese technology is already making significant contributions in Australia, not just in commercial applications but in defence and security. Similarly, Japanese technology companies are joining their colleagues in engineering, energy utilities and trading companies to be at the centre of the rapid emergence of the renewable hydrogen cluster that has blossomed throughout Australia ブラック ジャック 賭け 方he past few years. The growth of renewables ブラック ジャック 賭け 方he generation of electricity in Australia is evident ブラック ジャック 賭け 方he share that renewables had in 2021-22 was 33.4%, more than double the figure of 16.0% in 2016-17. The development of hydrogen will accelerate this trend and will be a key to achieving the goal of carbon neutrality.

While we retain a realistic focus on global uncertainties, we should also celebrate the continuing growth of economic ties and opportunities between Australia and Japan. In 2021-22 Australian exports to Japan jumped by 102% to reach billion and Japanese investment retains its position as second highest. In October the Australia-Japan Joint Business Conference in Tokyo had one of the highest number of attendees ever, testament to the enthusiasm that both sides have for the future. While I was there I also learnt that all flights from Australiブラック ジャック 賭け 方o Japan in January 2023 were already booked out as Australians yearned to enjoy the Japanese ski fields. I expect Japanese tourists to also take advantage of Australia’s welcoming summer and enjoy the rejuvenating effects of a well earned holiday. Happy New Year!

Author: Manuel Panagiotopoulos

Managing Director, Australian and Japanese Economic Intelligence