Aus warns Japan over whaling
2009-12-11 11:01
Sydney - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday threatened Japan with legal action if it fails to stop hunting whales, ahead of a visit to the country.
Rudd rejected Japan's "so-called scientific whaling", which is now resuming in seas south of Australia.
"If we cannot resolve this matter diplomatically, we will take international legal action. I've said that before, I'm serious about it," he told commercial radio, adding talks had "run into some obvious obstacles".
"I would prefer to deal with it diplomatically but if we can't get there diplomatically, that's the alternative course of action that we'll pursue."
Australia has previously threatened to haul Japan before the International Court of Justice or the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
The centre-left leader made the remarks as he announced a brief stopover in Japan next Tuesday on his way to UN climate change talks in Copenhagen.
Climate talks
Rudd said he would meet new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to discuss approaches to the climate summit, as well as security cooperation and economic matters.
"The prime minister's visit will underline the government's commitment to strengthening economic and trade ties between Australia and Japan," Rudd's office said in a statement.
Japan is Australia's largest export market and a major investor here. Rudd's office said he would address a business audience on the Australian economy.
Japan's whaling fleet left for its annual Southern Ocean hunt last month, using a loophole in an international moratorium that allows their killing for research.
Militant activists have set out to disrupt the hunt. This year the environmentalists are using a futuristic powerboat which holds the record for the fastest round-the-world circumnavigation.