Multilateral military exercises by the Royal Australian Air Force have begun in northern Australia.
Japan and Germany are participating in the exercise for the first time, and experts analyze that multilateral cooperation, including Europe, will lead to stronger deterrence against China, which is strengthening its maritime advances.
Seventeen countries from Asia, Europe and other countries participated in this exercise, the largest number to date, with Japan, South Korea, and Germany participating for the first time.
At the opening ceremony for exercises held in northern Darwin on the 20th, Air Force Commander Darren Goldie of the Royal Australian Air Force said, "The arrival of many fighters from the other side of the world is a testament to our international deployment capabilities. It shows the possibility of collaboration with ”, emphasizing the importance of this exercise.
Japan's Air Self-Defense Force has dispatched F2 fighters and plans to conduct combat training and aerial refueling training in the airspace around northern Australia for about three weeks.
Expert: Much of the cooperation will be used to counter China's actions
Tom Coben, a researcher at the Center for American Studies at the University of Sydney, who specializes in security in the Indo-Pacific region, said, "Australia is trying to deepen its defense cooperation with as many countries as possible. It will be used to counter them." He points out that multilateral cooperation, including with allies, will lead to stronger deterrence against China, which is strengthening its maritime expansion in the region.
In addition to Japan and South Korea, the fact that Germany is participating in the exercise for the first time shows that European countries are becoming increasingly concerned about China's actions against the backdrop of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine. "There is a growing awareness that China's coercive behavior is threatening the regional order," he said.
"The fact that it will be the largest military exercise in history sends a signal to China that many countries, not only in the Indo-Pacific region, but internationally, are concerned about China's coercive behavior." showed the point of view of