Japan's moves imperil peace

PM's visits may encourage groupings in region, undermine stability: Experts

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent visit to Australia, which has hyped up so-called supply chain resilience and critical minerals security, may encourage the formation of exclusive groupings in the Asia-Pacific and undermine regional peace and stability, experts said.

During her visit to Canberra, the two countries signed four separate agreements, including statements on defense, energy and critical minerals cooperation, as well as a joint declaration on "economic security cooperation".

The two sides have also signed a new agreement on critical minerals, saying they would elevate it to a "core pillar" of the economic relationship and identifying six rare earths "strategic projects" that they can support to diversify supply chains.