遠々洛外
  • 遠々洛外のブログ - Far Beyond the Miyako Blog

The question of submarines comes down to the wire

24/4/2016

 
PictureSource: www.gettyimages.co.jp
This is going to be a particularly short post, as  outcomes yet to be determined. Earlier this week, reports came out that the National Security Committee of Cabinet in Australia would be making its final decisions about which of the three contenders for the Future Submarine Program would be selected. For all those involved, this was certainly welcome news as it meant the past two years of waiting was finally going to come to an end.  For Japan, things took a sharp turn for the negative on Wednesday when ABC News reported that Japan had `all but been eliminated` from the options table, meaning that the only two options left were the proposals from TKMS and DCNS (this report was later followed by another from the Wall Street Journal and the Australian newspaper on Thursday saying the same thing, which pretty much confirmed the accuracy of the source).
 
On Thursday, Fairfax Media in Australia also broke the news that the Australian Federal Police had been called in by Defence to investigate who leaked the details of the NSC`s selection process to the media. The fact there was no denial from the government about the content of the leak, and the fact that the AFP had been called in again suggested that the reports had been accurate.  This is important because this week an announcement is expected to be made by the Australian government about the submarine tender and which bid (or bids) have been selected to partner Australia`s most expensive defence project ever - $50 billion over 30 years to provide Australia with an advanced submarine capability, plus maintenance. Presumably the government doesn`t want any more information leaking out until it has informed all parties involved of its decision.
 
If Japan is not selected, it would be disappointing for those such as myself who have been advocating for Japan`s submarines since the topic was first raised. Japan has done everything it possibly can to convince Australia of its sincere desire to forge a closer defence partnership, and submarines were to be the lynchpin for this. To not be chosen would be a setback, but as Andrew Shearer pointed out during the week, it would not derail the progress that has already been made in Australia-Japan defence relations. These will go from strength to strength, as both sides realise what is involved and the necessity for closer defence ties.
 
At any rate, one way or another we will know by the end of the week what the Australian government has decided. Until then we can only hold our breath, steel our nerves, and bide our time until the announcement comes.  



Comments are closed.

    Author

    This is a blog maintained by Greg Pampling in order to complement his webpage, Pre-Modern Japanese Resources.  All posts are attributable to Mr Pampling alone, and reflect his personal opinion on various aspects of Japanese history and politics (among other things).

    弊ブログをご覧になって頂きまして誠に有難うございます。グレッグ・パンプリングと申します。このブログに記載されている記事は全て我の個人的な意見であり、日本の歴史、又は政治状態、色々な話題について触れています。

    Categories

    All
    Disasters 災害
    Edo Period 江戸時代
    Japan Australia Relations 日豪関係
    Japanese Politics 日本の政治
    Japan Korea Relations 日韓関係
    Kamakura Period 鎌倉時代
    Meiji Period 明治時代
    Miscellaneous 雑学
    Muromachi Period 室町時代
    Regional Politics 地域の政治
    Second World War 太平洋戦争
    Sengoku Period 戦国時代

    Archives

    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    July 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012

    RSS Feed

© 2020 www.farbeyondthemiyako.com. All Rights Reserved.