Japan’s defence minister heads to Australia to meet Marles in wake of melon-gate controversy
Discussions to focus on Australia’s acquisition of Mogami-class frigates as Japan plays down Albanese’s podcast comments Japan’s defence minister will visit Canberra this week, the highest level engagement with Australia after controversy over Anthony Albanese’s comments about a gift of melons from prime minister Sanae Takaichi. The defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, will meet his counterpart…
Japan's defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, is visiting Canberra this week to meet with his counterpart, Richard Marles. According to The Guardian Australia, their discussions will focus on Australia's acquisition of Japan's Mogami-class frigates and enhanced security cooperation.
This visit is seen as the highest level engagement between Japan and Australia following controversy over Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's comments about a gift of melons from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Albanese had defended himself over comments made on the Bush Deep podcast, where he discussed the melons and made hand gestures.
Koizumi, who is considered a potential future prime minister of Japan and son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, will meet with Marles on Tuesday.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Guardian Australia, The Guardian — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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