Australia's foreign minister will undertake a regional diplomatic tour this week, visiting Japan, China and South Korea for talks centred on energy security in the wake of supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.
In a statement, Penny Wong said the meetings with her counterparts in Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul would "help ensure we are coordinating effectively" as global energy markets experience upheaval. She framed the trip as an effort to align policies and responses among key partners on issues related to energy and fuel supplies.
In Tokyo, Wong will meet with Japan's foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi to discuss both energy and fuel security and the ongoing Middle East conflict. The Tokyo leg of the trip is positioned around ensuring continuity of supply and discussing immediate market pressures created by the conflict.
Wong's visit to Beijing will include the eighth Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue with China's foreign minister Wang Yi. She said the dialogue will "progress the full range of our interests and manage our differences", indicating a broad agenda that spans cooperation and points of contention between the two countries.
In Seoul, Wong will hold talks with South Korea's foreign minister Cho Hyun. She described South Korea as "one of Australia's most important sources of refined fuels", underscoring the bilateral relationship's role in Australia's fuel supply chain.
Those discussions come as Australia, which imports most of its fuel, has encountered localised shortages since the Middle East conflict began in February. The shortages have contributed to the rationale for the ministerial visits, as officials seek to mitigate immediate impacts on domestic fuel availability and coordinate with regional partners.
The visit signals a diplomatic push to address near-term energy market instability while engaging bilateral and multilateral channels to manage broader strategic relationships in East Asia. The planned meetings combine focused conversations on fuel security with wider strategic dialogue, particularly in the Australia-China session.
Readout: The sequence of meetings will cover energy and fuel security, the Middle East conflict and the Australia-China strategic agenda, with a specific emphasis on coordination across key regional partners to address market disruptions.