Japan will stand by Australia on complex issues in Asia Pacific: Japanese Ambassador Shingo Yamagami

When asked about Japan's approach to navigating complex regional issues, including growing friction with China, Ambassador Shingo Yamagami told a Canberra business forum on Thursday like-minded countries needed to find common ground.

Mr Yamagami said it was important to follow the rule of law in difficult times and not resort to unilateral, arbitrary measures when disputes arise.

But if relations were to deteriorate further, Japan would be a "real friend" to Australia, he said.

"We have to be careful not to escalate the tensions on our part, but when push comes to shove, you will know who's your real friend," Mr Yamagami said.

"This is the kind of moment Australia needs real friends and Japan is hereby standing with Australia."

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Indian High Commissioner Manpreet Vohra echoed Mr Yamagami's words, advocating for a banding of countries in the region that share common ideals.

He said the border aggression India faced from its neighbours in recent years had been a catalyst for the move.

"I think that is the attempt at the moment ... for some of us countries then to get together and try and offer a different approach, which guarantees that amount of sovereignty, that amount of rules-based order and approach to how things should be done in our region," Mr Vohra said.

"That, I think, is the glue that is coming together between some of our countries and Australia."

But the Japanese Ambassador was clear not to fuel ideas that two world teams were forming following years of trade and political hostility between China and the United States.

Instead, Australia, Japan and key powers in the Asia-Pacific region, including India and Indonesia, could work towards guaranteeing order in their backyards.

"We are not living in a time of Cold War, or any binary, no competition between two superpowers or two big powers," Mr Yamagami said.

"I think what is facing all of us now, including in Australia, India, in Japan, Indonesia, and many others in this region, is how to make sure this growth based on our regional and international order could be maintained and further strengthened.

"No one country, you know, dictates what to do. No one country puts pressure on others by way of coercion or intimidation ... that is the kind of regional order we would like to see in the Pacific.

"Every man is equal in front of the law. It's the same applying to sovereign nations."

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