Former prime minister Tony Abbott has spoken of his "regret" his government did not finalise a submarine deal with Tokyo, while praising Japan's growing military relationship with Australia.
In his first public remarks since losing his seat at the May election, Mr Abbott told a gathering of diplomats and national security figures he wished Australia was purchasing Japanese submarines, instead of the $50 billion French-designed future fleet.
Speaking inside the Japanese embassy in Canberra at a reception marking the country's Self-Defence Force Day, Mr Abbott reflected on the modern state of relations with Australia.
"The bonds between Australia and Japan are closer than ever, our economic relationship is extremely strong, our people-to-people is strong and growing, and obviously the defence and security relationship is growing all the time," he said.
Mr Abbott said he remained disappointed Australia was not pursuing its original plan to acquire Japan's Soryu class submarines as a replacement for the Navy's ageing Collins Class fleet.
"I regret, ambassador, that we were unable in my time in government to establish a submarine partnership but, nevertheless, I do believe the defence and security relationship is getting stronger and stronger," he said.
The pointed remarks were made before a high-powered audience which included Japan's ambassador Reiichiro Takahashi, Australian Defence Department secretary Greg Moriarty, and Office of National Intelligence director-general Nick Warner.
Tokyo was deeply disappointed when the Turnbull government awarded the lucrative submarine contract to France, over rival Japanese and German bids in 2016.
Defence insiders initially expected Japan would secure the deal because Mr Abbott had made plain inside government ranks his preference for the Soryu option.
A senior Defence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, dismissed Mr Abbott's criticisms, saying the former leader "had the opportunity to drive it prior to September 2015", when he was toppled from the prime ministership by Malcolm Turnbull.
"He was PM for two years — why didn't he nail it?", the Defence figure told the ABC.
Last year, Japan's visiting Foreign Minister said his country would still be prepared to export its submarines to Australia if the deal between Defence and French company Naval Group collapsed.
Since then, the Naval Group has signed the contract underpinning the $50 billion project but it continues to attract criticism from defence experts.
