Australia to work closely with Japan, US, India: gov’t paper

November 23, 2017

Sydney- -Australia said Thursday it will strengthen cooperation with Japan, the United States and India to ensure security and economic stability amid the rise of China in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Australian government made that clear in the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper, the first comprehensive white paper on its international engagement in 14 years.

Regarding the Korean Peninsula situation, the white paper said, "Australia will continue to work with others to impose the strongest possible economic and other pressure on North Korea to stop its dangerous behavior."

"China's power and influence are growing to match, and in some cases exceed, that of the United States" in parts of the Indo-Pacific region including Southeast Asia, according to the report.

Australia will continue deepening its alliance with the United States and expand its strategic partnership to other like-minded democratic countries in the region, the report also said.

The report noted the importance of the four-nation framework among Australia, Japan, the United States and India aimed at securing growth and stability from Asia to Africa.

But the report said future stability of the Indo-Pacific region hinges on the course of relations between the United States and China.

Australia will continue its positive engagement with China and advance their comprehensive strategic partnership, given that China is Australia's biggest trade partner, the report also said. Jiji Press