The strategic challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to the Asia-Pacific region and globally, as well as the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, have prompted NATO to expand its defense strategy to the Indo-Pacific region. Japan has actively cooperated with NATO to implement the four flagship projects defined in the Washington Summit Declaration, playing a special role in the cooperation between NATO and the four Indo-Pacific countries. Experts believe that Japan plays a vital role in these efforts.
The leadership declaration released at the NATO Washington Summit clearly states that NATO is “strengthening dialogue with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, addressing cross-regional issues” and will collaborate in supporting Ukraine, cyber defense, countering disinformation, and technology in four areas. The declaration also notes, “These plans will enhance common security interests.”
These four new flagship projects are all in response to the CCP.
On July 11, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attended the NATO Washington Summit and promoted cooperation between NATO and the four Indo-Pacific countries in areas such as cyber, countering disinformation, and more.
The Indo-Pacific countries were invited as partners to attend the NATO Washington Summit, and Japan has been attending the meeting for three consecutive years.
At the summit, Prime Minister Kishida announced plans to invite NATO and Indo-Pacific partner countries to Japan for the first meeting on countering disinformation within the year.
Prior to this, during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan would strengthen the mechanism for sharing classified information with NATO and send personnel to NATO research institutions to participate in research on countering disinformation. Additionally, the two sides agreed to conduct joint training in Europe and the Atlantic region within the year.
Prime Minister Kishida stated at a joint press conference that Japan aims to enhance information-sharing mechanisms with NATO and promote cooperation in various areas such as space, cyber, and joint training.
Taiwanese media veteran and military commentator Qi Leyi told Epoch Times that the cooperation between NATO and the four Indo-Pacific countries represents the most significant recent change in international military security, especially given Japan’s participation.
The NATO Washington Summit declaration mentions the CCP 15 times, highlighting its role as a “decisive driver” of the Ukraine conflict. It also criticizes the CCP for undermining the international order, posing a serious threat to global security, challenging NATO’s interests, security, and values, and attempting to reconstruct a new world order.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also warned the CCP that this situation cannot continue.
Director Su Ziyun of the Strategic and Resource Division at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Studies told Epoch Times that NATO now recognizes the CCP as a major challenger and threat.
During his speech at the Washington Summit, the Japanese Prime Minister stated that “the security of Europe, the Atlantic, and the Indo-Pacific are inseparable.” Regarding the CCP’s expansionist behavior in the East China Sea and South China Sea, he emphasized that unilateral changes to the status quo through force cannot be tolerated.
To counter the aggressive expansion and threats from Russia and the CCP, NATO is building a defense network with the Indo-Pacific countries across regions, focusing on areas such as cyber defense and countering disinformation. Specific cooperation strategies are being developed through participation in NATO’s cyber exercises and sharing information to counter disinformation, complemented by new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum to address the CCP’s AI weapon development.
Su Ziyun stated that the CCP’s threat to NATO primarily manifests in two aspects – military and industrial supply chains. Apart from ballistic and intercontinental missiles that threaten Europe, freedom of navigation is vital to NATO in the Indo-Pacific region, where Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are crucial supply chains for NATO and are under threat from the CCP. NATO is gradually expanding its influence in the Indo-Pacific region as a result.
In 2022, NATO explicitly identified the CCP as a “systemic challenge,” with member countries frequently deploying troops to the Indo-Pacific region to deter the CCP, Russia, and North Korea.
Su Ziyun mentioned that this year, six countries have sent ships through the Taiwan Strait, including not only the usual US and Canada but also France, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the UK, to demonstrate NATO’s attitude.
In the second half of July, Germany, France, Spain, and other countries will send their air forces to the Indo-Pacific region to conduct joint military exercises with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
In recent years, the CCP has frequently stirred up trouble in the East China Sea and South China Sea, attempting to unilaterally change the status quo through military force, posing a serious threat to countries like Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and support from the CCP and North Korea, forming a tripartite axis, US allies like Japan and South Korea find themselves squeezed on all sides, compelling NATO to expand its defense measures to the Indo-Pacific region.
As an ally of the United States and a partner of NATO, Japan bears the responsibility of facing threats from the CCP, Russia, and North Korea in the Asia-Pacific region.
Therefore, Japan is aligned with NATO and has decided to increase its annual defense budget to 2% of GDP and introduce “counterattack capabilities” to target enemy missile launch sites. Additionally, Japan has established a highly confidential dedicated line with NATO.
Qi Leyi said, “Japan was a defeated country in World War II and was severely restricted due to the Peace Constitution, but it has broken through in recent years.”
The CCP is trying to invade Taiwan by 2027, amidst changing global political dynamics. From Japan’s perspective, aligning defense policies with NATO is of great significance to strengthen defense forces in Asia by collaborating with Europe and the United States.
Japanese senior media person Akio Yaita expressed to Epoch Times that the biggest problem Japan faces now is the threat from the CCP. The threats from North Korea and Russia are far less than those from the CCP. Japan is also very concerned about the outbreak of war in the Taiwan Strait, which would have a significant impact on Japan. The US presence in Asia is limited, so “Japan must unite with NATO to collectively confront the CCP.”
Following the conclusion of the NATO Washington Summit, Prime Minister Kishida immediately visited Germany, a NATO member country, against the backdrop of the CCP’s threat, to confirm cooperation in economic and security fields between the two countries. The leaders agreed to develop new communication standards, improve network security, collaborate on artificial intelligence, semiconductor stability, and guarantee the provision of food and fuel between their military forces under the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) which came into effect on July 12, fostering increased cooperation between the two militaries.
Qi Leyi commented, “Both Japan and Germany were defeated countries and were heavily restricted, but now the situation has reversed, and both countries have played very active roles.”
Since being invited to the NATO summit, Japan has not only strengthened its overall connection and cooperation with NATO but also engaged in bilateral or multilateral collaborations in the security defense field with other member countries such as the United States, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and others. Furthermore, Japan has engaged in various forms of cooperation with countries in the Indo-Pacific region like South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines, playing a critical role in the implementation of the US-Japan alliance and NATO Indo-Pacific strategy.
Qi Leyi remarked that the situation of cooperation between NATO and the Indo-Pacific in response to the Russia-Ukraine war and CCP provocations represents a significant shift, marking one of the most substantial changes post-Cold War. The most crucial pillar of the Indo-Pacific strategy is the US-Japan alliance, with Japan playing a crucial role in this.