日本防卫大臣小泽进一郎本周将访问堪培拉，与澳大利亚副总理兼国防部长理查德·马尔斯举行会晤[1]。此次访问是两国在近期外交风波后进行的高层互动，旨在加强双方安全合作与防卫伙伴关系。
澳大利亚总理阿尔巴尼斯因其对日本首相高市早苗赠送的日本哈密瓜的评论引发争议[1]。高市早苗曾在五月访问澳大利亚期间与阿尔巴尼斯共进晚餐[1]。日本政府驻澳大利亚大使铃木和宏在周三发表声明，认为阿尔巴尼斯的行为没有"恶意"[1]。日本外交电报指出澳大利亚媒体的"耸人听闻的报道"才是问题所在[1]。
防卫合作方面，澳大利亚计划在十年内投入100亿澳元购买三艘最上级护卫舰，首艘预计于2029年12月交付[1]。此外，小泽进一郎因周末访问靖国神社遭到中国批评[1]。
Japan's Defence Minister Ozawa Shinichiro will travel to Canberra this week to meet with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles [1]. The visit represents high-level engagement following controversy sparked by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's comments about Japanese melons gifted by Japanese Prime Minister Takashita Sanae during a May dinner in Australia [1].
During the meeting, the two officials are expected to discuss Australia's plan to purchase three Mogami-class destroyers from Japan over a ten-year period at a cost of 10 billion Australian dollars, with the first vessel scheduled for delivery in December 2029 [1]. Japan's Ambassador to Australia Suzuki Kazuhiro stated on Wednesday that Albanese's actions were not driven by malicious intent [1]. However, Japanese diplomatic cables characterized Australian media coverage of the incident as "sensationalist reporting," suggesting that press treatment rather than governmental intent was the underlying concern [1]. Ozawa's visit has also drawn scrutiny in China, where officials criticized his weekend visit to the Yasukuni Shrine [1].