Telecom Security - Australia-Japan Energy Cooperation - India-Australia Defence Ties
Digicel Pacific Junks Huawei networks in favour of Nokia
Digicel, founded in 2001 by Irish businessman Denis O’Brien, is a strategic asset in the Pacific Island Countries (PIC) as it encompasses critical lines of transport and communication among the 22 nations and territories in the region. In 2020, China Mobile, the biggest telecoms operator in China, had shown interest in buying Digicel Pacific, raising serious security concerns in Australia. Robert Potter, the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Internet 2.0, noted:
There’s a real risk of telecoms company espionage. There’s the risk of people’s conversations becoming a component of state policy. China, effectively, would be able to access everyone’s conversations
This led Telstra, Australia's leading telecommunications and technology company, to acquire Digicel in 2022 with funding from Export Finance Australia, the United States International Development Finance Corporation and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
A Telstra spokesperson said:
Digicel Pacific has undertaken a thorough process to choose a new vendor to best deliver its network's needs and on the best commercial terms" and "will continue to work with our current network partner Huawei to maintain the infrastructure to a high standard, as we gradually transition to Nokia's technology
Big Picture:
Digicel and its strategic investment by Australia, Japan and the US highlights Quad’s commitment to deepen its engagement with the Pacific Island countries to achieve shared aspirations and address shared challenges.
Australia agrees to ensure stable supply of LNG and coal to Japan
Australia and Japan agreed to deepen energy cooperation. During the Australia-Japan Ministerial Economic Dialogue, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister, met his counterpart Don Farrell, Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism. They were joined by Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Resources Minister Madeleine King.
The joint statement issued acknowledges the robust relations between both countries driven by common values, economic synergy, and deep people-to-people connections. Both sides agreed to ensure energy security and address decarbonisation while achieving economic growth.
Yasutoshi Nishimura said:
Australia agreed to ensure a stable supply of resources such as LNG and a reliable investment environment in Australia's resources and energy sector, and further expand the cooperation in the sector to cover such resources as hydrogen and ammonia
While Don Farrell said:
Australia will continue to be Japan's most reliable energy security partner as both progress towards ambitious emissions reduction targets
Japan to procure U.S. Tomahawk missiles earlier than planned
Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara said that Japan had advanced its procurement of Tomahawk cruise missiles in 2025 instead of 2026, as originally planned.
Due to emerging security challenges from North Korea and China, Japan has decided to bolster its defence by purchasing 400 Tomahawk missiles for its Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis destroyers that will provide it with a counterstrike capability of targeting enemy bases. The Tomahawk has a strike range of around 1,600 km. According to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR):
Tomahawk cruise missiles are designed to fly at extremely low altitudes at high subsonic speeds and are piloted over an evasive route by several mission-tailored guidance systems. The Block IV missile is capable of loitering over a target area to respond to emerging targets or, with its onboard camera, provide battle damage information to warfighting commanders
The Japanese government has allocated $1.4 billion in the fiscal 2023 budget for the missile procurement.
Minoru Kihara also said:
In light of the increasingly severe security environment, we have determined that it is necessary to bring forward efforts to build stand-off defence capabilities
India-Australia Defence Ties
Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, Chief of Joint Operations, Australia, said that India and Australia had reached “a stage of tactical interoperability” and that there was
an opportunity to start coordinating activities and leverage the resources of both nations to be able to achieve better levels of situational awareness”.
He noted that one of the key factors that helped the India-Australia bilateral cooperation grow was the sharing of intelligence and information. He said:
Since November last year, my headquarters has sent 31 dossiers of intelligence relating to activities in the Indian Ocean [through] our Defence Attaché into the Indian military system. That’s ok. I would like to get to a point where we could provide directly to an operational headquarters
For those who may be interested, read this blog by Bharat Sharma and Australian researcher Josiah W. Neal on the India-Australia defence partnership.
Curator: Bharat Sharma
Contributor: Bharat Sharma, Kingshuk Saha