The Prime Ministers of Australia and Japan, Kevin Rudd and Yasuo Fukuda respectively have failed to reach an agreement over the issue of Japan’s whaling in the Antarctic Ocean. Mr Kevin Rudd is presently in Japan, where it was decided by both parties that the whaling issue should not hamper the bilateral relations between Japan and Australia. Commenting on the whaling issue, the Australian PM said, ‘We will be working in the period ahead diplomatically in search of a solution on this question.’

 

The whaling issue revolves around Japan killing hundreds of whales every year in the Antarctic Ocean. This has invoked serious protests from Australia and New Zealand as well as charges of harassment by animal rights activists. Mr Rudd was relieved by the Japanese PM Mr Fukuda in his Tokyo office, where the latter remarked that he was very pleased with Mr Rudd’s statement over regional co-operation and security made earlier this week in Kyoto. The remaining time was spent discussing these issues by the two leaders.