Japan has become arguably Australia’s most important security partner, second only to the United States, as strategic tensions continue to rise in the Indo-Pacific. Your email address: Email Us Get the Newsletter By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy“Our relationship between Australia and Japan has never been stronger. “A reflection of the trust between our two nations, our information security co-operation increases the interoperability between our defence forces,” the Prime Minister declared during Question Time. “This is nothing more than a question about Albanese’s conduct as Prime Minister, and it shouldn’t be allowed to become something that affects the Japan–Australia relationship.” The Albanese Government has now moved to formally assure the Japanese that “Prime Minister Albanese did not make the comments in the way that has been reported”, but his clumsy handling of the saga continues to mystify senior figures in Tokyo.