Australia and Japan Join US Indo-Pacific Economic Strategy Amid China’s Growing Investment

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R) shakes hands with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop (L) before the start of a meeting during the Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) at the Hoover Institution on the campus of Stanford University July 23, 2018 in Stanford, California. U.S. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Australia and Japan are teaming up with the United States to boost investment in Indo-Pacific infrastructure projects in a move that is seen to be countering China’s increasing influence in the region.

In a joint statement on July 31, the nations announced a trilateral partnership to invest in regional projects that would “build infrastructure, address development challenges, increase connectivity, and promote economic growth.”