Australia and Japan essays

Australia and Japan essays They were the aggressor in World War 2; the foe that was inches away from occupying Australian soil. But despite everything, they are now the largest export market of Australia. This, coupled with Australias growing relationship with Japan certainly points to a bright future, both for Australia and Japan. This essay will examine firstly, the strain between Australia and Japan during World War 2; secondly, the export of Australian goods to Japan; thirdly, the import of Japanese goods to Australia; thirdly, problems about the trade relationship and future predictions. In the days when Japan was the supreme military power in the Australasian region, Australia did not have any sort of formal trade relationship with Japan. The Japanese were rather pictured as marauding yellow hordes, ready to launch an imminent invasion on Australia. This nightmarish image turned reality on 20th February 1942 after the bombing on Hobart. Due to the Japaneses effort in invading the US, Australia was able to repel the attack in New Guinea. The Australia-Japan relationship since has changed. Today, millions of Japanese visit Australia each year, many settling permanently. Nonetheless, it is trade that forms the key part of the bilateral relationship. Japan is, by far, the biggest market for Australian goods, buying in 1998 approximately AU$17.5 billion. This figure is also increasing by an average of AU$1 billion annually. The exports are mainly composed of raw materials, such as food (AU$22 million), mineral fuel (AU$4626 million) and other inedible crude material (AU$3636 million). These items play a major role in sustaining Japans large economy. In particular, mineral ores and fossil fuels from Australia have helped create Japans hi-tech products. But it has to be noted that manufactured goods are also exported to Japan from Australia (AU$1623 million). On the other end of the Pacific shore, Japan exported around ...