豪首相、訪日を検討　中国けん制で―地元紙

　【シドニー時事】２０日付のオーストラリア主要紙オーストラリアン・フィナンシャル・レビューは、モリソン首相が数カ月以内に、日本を訪問する方向で検討していると報じた。インド太平洋地域で影響力を高める中国をけん制し、米国に対して１１月の米大統領選後も同地域への関与強化を求めるメッセージを送る狙いがあるという。
　同紙によれば、今回は、自衛隊と豪州軍の相互訪問を促進する「日豪円滑化協定」の調印も予定している。訪日は安倍晋三首相が強く要請。モリソン氏も意欲的だが、帰国後に２週間の隔離を行う必要があるなど課題も多い。
　モリソン氏は当初、ワシントンで開かれる先進７カ国首脳会議（Ｇ７サミット）に合わせて日本に立ち寄る方向だったが、サミットは大統領選後となった。
　豪州は、新型コロナウイルスの発生源をめぐる国際的な調査を求めたことで中国との関係が悪化した。中国は１８日には豪州産ワインの反ダンピング（不当廉売）調査に着手しており、豪州への圧力を高めている。（2020/08/20-07:40）

Australia and Japan are discussing Prime Minister Scott Morrison's visit to Tokyo in the coming months amid China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region, the Australian Financial Review reported on Thursday.
   The visit is being considered with an aim to stare down Beijing and to send to whoever wins the U.S. presidential election in November a strong signal that the United States needs to step up its engagement in the region, the report said.
   According to the report, the two countries are planning to use the occasion of Morrison's trip to Japan to sign a Reciprocal Access Agreement that would facilitate mutual visits by Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military.
   The Australian prime minister's visit to Japan has been strongly requested by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Morrison has also been keen to realize the visit, but there are issues including the need to place himself in a two-week quarantine upon his return to Australia due to the new coronavirus outbreak.
   Morrison had looked at visiting Tokyo in time with a meeting of Group of Seven leaders in Washington that was originally seen to take place in summer, but the summit is now likely to be held after the presidential election.