Australia PM says Olympic unity won't denuclearize N Korea

Maybe he can help out George Smith with his Japan debacle. How embarrassing this must be for Prime minster.

Maybe he can help out George Smith with his Japan debacle. How embarrassing this must be for Prime minster.

Really? I just one guy doing something really stupid. Not talking a particularly serious crime either.

Definitely support Australia & Japan getting closer in all facets of their relationship

Very good move by Australia. NK's recent "talks" are a farce and SK's cowardly appeasement means they are no longer an ally. NK and it's pathetic useful-idiot appeasers around the world are done

@Matt Hartwell, Chill mate. I was being facetious and flippant.

I have no issues with Japan Australia strengthening ties. I just got done reading the write up about George Smith and the assault. Trump came to mind with those boys that got locked up in China.

No offence huh....

Nice picture both men are looking at completely different things Turnbull has no idea what the temporary sign says, Shinzo at an unknown object in the sky. How many tax payer paid officials are there is a quandary as its not a wide lens photo but I'm sure they serve some useful roll, be it advice on realestate or throwing themselves over puddles.

No offence huh....

None taken :)

Nice picture both men are looking at completely different things Turnbull has no idea what the temporary sign says, Shinzo at an unknown object in the sky

Yeah could have picked a more "joyous" cover photo, with a few smiles thrown in lol. I just watched a news item about it here in Aus on the 6pm news. They look to have a good rapport. But, I understand the defense is a serious topic.

PM Malcolm Turnbull has rightly said today that we have to be very clear eyed about the security situation in the region thereby clearly conveying to Japan that it must increase its collaborations with close strategic partners for creating hubs to enhance our defence capabilities for our mutual security benefits to strengthen peace in the region. As PM Netanyahu too, pointed out at geo political Raisina Dialogue conference in New Delhi on January 16,that weak do not survive but the STRONG will .If you make alliances with the strong , you are able to maintain peace by being strong.

I think these 2 are a good match. Same views on immigration and defense, both are lightweights on the international stage and often look uncomfortable at major summits.

i think they enjoy each other's company. 'Dear Malcolm may i suggest blabla' , ' most certainly shinzo- san' type of convos. Hope talks go well and both speak their mind i.e. no need to regurgitate Trump's bs re NK, boss won't listen (both being us 2 favs lapdogs).

I think these 2 are a good match. Same views on immigration and defense, both are lightweights on the international stage and often look uncomfortable at major summits.

Australia's stance on immigration in terms of practical implications are vastly removed from Japan. Australia has one the highest immigration rates in Western world - 185,000 in 2015-2016. And Japan? In 2016 the refugee intake increased to almost 20,000 people. And Japan? So know, they do not share the same views on immigration. That's just nonsense. Defense however is one area very much aligned.

In terms of lightweights. Well Australia really only has weight in its own neighborhood, Oceania and too a lesser extent S.E Asia and I guess as a partner among other Western countries. Japan has the third largest economy in the world and has an influence in Asia second only to China. I see Japan's influence as growing in the world, rather than shrinking.

Both them looked so smart.I hope this economic, security talks bring a lot new things In our nations.

Thanks for this information..

@matt, my bad, was talking about illegal immigration.

Re 'lightweights', again was talking about our 2 Pm rather than Japan and oz. Imo both Abe and Turnbull lack leadership and 'presence' on the international stage (was even worse with Abbott if you ask me). Again that's just me.

What kind of international joke is this ? What can Australia do to Japan's security ? Japanese people at least can elect a Japanese as PM, what can Australians do ? Can they elect true indigenous Australians as their PM ?

Both Turnbull and Abe are US puppets, they do as Washington order them. I predict that within 5 years Australia will have US nuclear missile bases in the Northern territory. The meeting between Trump and Abe is as ordered by Washington. Australia has always wanted to be the US deputy in the Pacific region and Turnbull is making Australia a target for US enemies by allowing US bases in Australia. The US policy is to have their bases in other lands so as to reduce the risk to their own country. And our fools of a government cave in. Both Turnbull and Abe need to be removed from office, they are lap dogs.

At last Abe meets somebody he can discuss serious matters with, not Rumanians or Lithuanians.

Looks like someone has just dropped a seriously smelly one right under Abe's nose! Not the best picture to put at the front of what is intended to be a serious article!

A web of alliances is the only way for Japan to deter aggression.

I see Akie the apologist has managed to go right off piste, distraction posting!

@Ake::

Japanese people do not voteJapan's prime minist. Nationally elected members oooof the majority party decide the party chairman? Then this chairman become priminisger.

toshiko, Abe and Turnbull share the same democratic value on this one: neither was elected by people. But at least Japanese constitution recognize indigenous Japanese rights, Australia doesn't share the same value.

Ah, Malcom Turdbull. The worst PM of Australia ever!

@Akie - But at least Japanese constitution recognize indigenous Japanese rights, Australia doesn't share the same value.

And, what exactly do you know about the rights of indigenous Australians and accommodations the Australian government has made for them? Obviously, bugger all! The Australian government has done a lot more for the indigenous residents than Japan has ever done for the Ainu. Japanese people are always very quick to scorn Australians for what happened to the indigenous people during British settlement. However, Japan did exactly the same thing to the Ainu. They sent all their criminals to Hokkaido to cut down the forests and eliminate the indigenous people. In fact, Japan was much worse. At least the first British settlers attempted to assimilate and live with the indigenous people. The Japanese just stole their land, houses and food and killed those who resisted. And, coincidently, it was in the same century.

Nice picture both men are looking at completely different things Turnbull has no idea what the temporary sign says, Shinzo at an unknown object in the sky. How many tax payer paid officials are there is a quandary as its not a wide lens photo but I'm sure they serve some useful roll, be it advice on realestate or throwing themselves over puddles.

Pretty sure they would have bilingual signs made up for a visiting prime minister and judging by the other pictures from different angles, Abe is looking at the erected Patriot system (which is, you know, why they are there and all...), but I guess any excuse to belittle politicians you don't like right?

@Akie

“What kind of international joke is this ? “

Its not, it’s a state visit.

“What can Australia do to Japan's security ?”

Granted not as much as the US but we are now going to be more involved in defence cooperation.

“Japanese people at least can elect a Japanese as PM, what can Australians do ?”

Um....we can also elect an Australian as PM. In fact we are more involved in politics in this country than Japan. Voting is compulsory, but people are more attuned. Japan I think has many apathetic voters.

“Can they elect true indigenous Australians as their PM ?”

Whoever the populace thinks is is the best person for the job! Indigenous or not...

Hope you are a bit more enlightened. Our two countries have come a long way since WW2, look it up

Several years ago, Australia asked several countries to bid on creating a nweat powerful. submarine. Germany and Japan were top candidates but. France was chosen and France creted submarine production plants. Ever since then, Germany and Japan have been ignoring trade opportunities Australia show to both countries. Recently, Abe has been more interested in Europpean small countries to increase trade. It seems that Japan will be cautious when Australia started to talk business.

Security. Australia can have coalition with France. Japan will do different direction. It will work defending Japan. Not going to help. other countries.

Several years ago, Australia asked several countries to bid on creating a nweat powerful. submarine. Germany and Japan were top candidates but. France was chosen and France creted submarine production plants. Ever since then, Germany and Japan have been ignoring trade opportunities Australia show to both countries. Recently, Abe has been more interested in Europpean small countries to increase trade. It seems that Japan will be cautious when Australia started to talk business.

Many Australian's aren't convinced by the French option to be honest. Again, we re-inventing the wheel. Converting what is a nuclear powered sub in a diesel one and going with what will be the next iteration of the Barracuda. We just seem intent on doing things the hard way and as a result causing massive delays in when we actually get equipment. I was happy to go with the Japanese design but question marks existed in a couple areas, Japans experience in supplying defense equipment for foreign countries was one, think concerns we would not get a sub capable of travelling over large distances was another. Plus China's response. Not that I think that mattered much.

Japanese people at least can elect a Japanese as PM, what can Australians do ? Can they elect true indigenous Australians as their PM ?

Indirectly yes. We do not vote for a PM directly. They are selected from the winning party. But the reality is everybody knows when they go to the polls who the PM will be, at least for a while. Challenges to leadership within the party are a feature of politics here, unfortunately. An indigenous Australian could be PM if he or she was seen as a good candidate by a party with a chance of winning, currently LNP or Labor. They are Australian citizens so they have every right to become PM.

@Matt: Thanks for explaining about submarine.

I think Japan will increase Australian beef and other food import. Australian vegetables are very delicious,, too. One more advantage Australiana has, comparing the majority of Asians,, is English. Japanese can understand English better than Chinese.

I think Abe spoke Turnbell with his Californian accented English to. converse smoothly. Avery defending from N Korean scare, if Australia uninstall AEGIS ASHORE PAC3 instead of fake system Hawai has, wide area on Pacific Ocean side do. not have to worry N Korea. Both countries might not trust S Korea.

I think Japan will increase Australian beef and other food import. Australian vegetables are very delicious,, too. One more advantage Australiana has, comparing the majority of Asians,, is English. Japanese can understand English better than Chinese.

Good to hear you like Australian produce :) We are spoiled here when it comes to fruit and vegetables. Of course agriculture is an industry that Australia has specialized in for a very long time because that was the foundation of the country after the Brits came here. There was nothing else really, apart from the gold rush in the 1850's. Agriculture and mining are the only two general areas of industry in which Australia has a really strong competitive advantage to this day. Always happy to see more Japanese come here for holidays or even as migrants. Chinese immigration to this country concerns me. Some of these people are hardcore CCP nationalists. That's just a fact. Its playing with fire. More Japanese migrants would be preferred I can tell you that for sure.

Tourism is interesting.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-16/australia-and-japan-reverse-tourism-relationship/9332518

Well before China's economic growth drove its citizens to seek out Australian beaches and koala cuddling sessions, it was Japanese tourists filling the pockets of operators in the 1980s and '90s.

The peak was in 1997 when more than 814,000 made the journey south.

Two decades later, in 2016, the number was basically half, with only 417,900 making the same trip.

By comparison, in 1997 some 101,460 Australians made the trek to Japan, of which just 41,520 were tourists.

By 2016 the number had sky rocketed to 445,237 — of which 398,193 were tourists. That's a 959 per cent increase in the number of Australians taking a holiday in Japan over just two decades.

I think Abe spoke Turnbell with his Californian accented English to. converse smoothly. Avery defending from N Korean scare, if Australia uninstall AEGIS ASHORE PAC3 instead of fake system Hawai has, wide area on Pacific Ocean side do. not have to worry N Korea. Both countries might not trust S Korea.

Defense is an area in which Japan & Australia are entirely on the same page, although Australia has some lingering concerns with Indonesia that I don't think Japan really shares due to the proximity of Indonesia and the fact that radical Islam is starting to rear its head in Indonesia a bit more. We hope Indonesia maintains its moderate Islam position. So far they have kept it under control.

In extension to that, a comment on this from Disillusioned:

I predict that within 5 years Australia will have US nuclear missile bases in the Northern territory. The meeting between Trump and Abe is as ordered by Washington

I think if the status quo remains, in terms of what we face in our own neighbourhood, Australia will not pursue missile bases in the north of the country, BUT if Indonesia heads too far down a scary direction, particularly if they develop a navy capable of threatening Australia OR China builds a base in a country in the South Pacific, like PNG for instance, then we will absolutely pursue that option. And yes it could be nuclear. I would not rule it out. But only if the situations changes in our immediate neighborhood.

Empty rhetoric: denuclearization will never happen. It has never happened in the past and it won't happen in the future. The only nation to abandon the path of nuclear weaponizing was Libya, ask Gaddafi how that deal worked out for him. That is the only message that leaders see about denuclearized countries, their leaders are vulnerable. Trump threatening to scrap the Iran deal just makes any possible deal more improbable. Great to see a united stand but technically NK is still at war with the west.

Whiile World is complaining NK, India announced it created more powerful nuclear BM.

Like it or not, Turnbull is absolutely correct. The Olympics are one thing, nuclear weapons are another.

Abe has been distancing from Trump. It is time Abe and Australis create stronger alliance.

Un petit pas à la fois...

There is a beginning for everything even peace. Olympic goal is about giving the corean people as a whole and only people a common dream. Only an intelligent diplomate can understand the strong symbol there is in this reunion.

For the world it is a reminder of the long terme diplomatic engagement UN gave picked for the future of this two countries. The reunion of the two corea is the end of the nuclear conflict. It will be long. But a nuclear power in the hand of a strong democraty is the best security we can offer the world of tomorrow.

Diplomacy is only for today. Sometime we can only build for the long term future and this is a guideline for every meetings to come and insure there is never a set back.

North corean military will be put down because this is the only human or god or intelligent way. The future is not anymore about military ruling but just military protecting and serving peace and freedom.