Australia PM: whaling spat shouldn't be allowed to hurt Japan ties

AustralianPrimeMinisterMalcolmTurnbullexpresseddisappointmentonFridayatJapan'sresumptionofwhalingintheSouthernOcean,butsaidthedisputeoverthehuntshouldnotbeallowedtohurtthetwocountries'specialstrategicties.

Japan'swhalingfleetsetoutfortheAntarcticthismonthtoresumeahuntforthemammals,endingayear-longhiatusfollowinganInternationalCourtofJustice(ICJ)rulingthatJapanshouldstop.TheresumptionpromptedcriticismfromAustraliaaswellasTokyo'skeyally,theUnitedStates.

"AustraliaisverydisappointedthatJapanhasresumedwhalingintheSouthernOceanthisyear,"TurnbulltoldanewsconferenceinTokyonearthestartofavisitthatwillculminatewithtalkswithJapanesePrimeMinisterShinzoAbe.

"Werecognizethatisapointofdifferenceofopinionbutwewill,asgoodfriendsshould-weshouldbeup-frontandfrankaboutourdifferencesofopinion,putthemonthetableanddealwiththem,seektoresolvethem,"Turnbullsaid.

ButTurnbull,whofaceddomesticoppositionpressuretospeakoutonwhaling,saidtherowshouldnotbeallowed"toerodethegoodwillandtherestoftherelationship".

TurnbullisonhisfirstvisittoJapansincereplacingTonyAbbott,whohaddevelopedtighttieswithAbe,inSeptember.

HefacesabalancingactbetweenAustralia'slargesttradingpartnerandrisingpower,China,anditsoldestregionalallyandsecond-largesttradingpartner,Japan,withwhichithasbeenbolsteringstrategicrelations.

InaninterviewwithJapan'sYomiurinewspaperpublishedonFriday,TurnbulldeclinedtocommentontheoutcomeofcompetitionforacontracttobuildanewfleetofAustraliansubmarines.

Astate-backedJapaneseconsortiumledbyMitsubishiHeavyIndustriesandKawasakiHeavyIndustriesiscompetingwithGermany'sThyssenkruppandFrenchstate-controllednavalcontractorDCNS.

"Itisacompetitiveprocess,wearegettinggoodprogressonthisfromourofficials,andweshouldletthatprocesstakeitscourse,"thepaperquotedTurnbullassaying.