The Real Problem With Australia's Melongate: It Uses Japan as a Prop

Opposition politicians in Australia are demanding that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologize to his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, for purportedly sexist remarks he made on a podcast, an episode some have dubbed “Melongate.”

This week will see the arrival of Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in Canberra for high-stakes talks with his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles.