China News Service, January 13 (Reporter Meng Xiangjun) The two countries that announced their alliance to deal with the same country 120 years ago have recently come together in a historic way.

One of them is the United Kingdom, and the other is China's neighbor Japan.

　　This time, the two countries made another big move. The British and Japanese prime ministers signed a military agreement described by the media as the "Agreement of the Century", allowing each other to station troops on each other's territory.

Behind the signing of the agreement, the figure of another Western power quietly emerged...

　　What does this move by Britain and Japan mean?

At least, many international media read out two words: Dangerous!

Data map: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

"The most important defense agreement in 120 years"

　　On January 11 local time, visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held talks with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London, England, and the two sides signed the defense agreement "Reciprocal Access Agreement" (RAA).

　　Foreign media noticed that this is the first and most important defense agreement signed between Japan and a European country in more than a century.

The last time the two countries signed such an agreement dates back to 1902.

　　This agreement is mainly to "promote the joint training of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the British Army, so that the troops can flow smoothly." It mentions that the two sides allow each other to station troops. The British Army can be stationed in Japanese territory, and the Japanese Army can also be stationed in the United Kingdom. Joint defense in the event of any attack on any country".

Foreign media pointed out that this is similar to the agreement signed with the United States and Australia.

Japan, UK sign 'significant' defense deal.

Image source: Screenshot of Al Jazeera TV report

　　The British government believes that this agreement can help consolidate its commitment to the "Indo-Pacific region" and allow the British and Japanese forces to "plan and conduct larger and more complex military exercises and military deployments."

　　In order to strengthen defense cooperation, the two countries have previously concluded the "Intelligence Protection Agreement" that can exchange confidential information, and the "Mutual Supply Agreement of Materials and Labor Services" that integrates materials and labor services.

What are the benefits of signing an agreement between the two countries?

　　Soon after the start of 2023, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida launched his first trip to Europe and the United States during his tenure, visiting France, Italy, and the United Kingdom non-stop.

Among the three countries, only British Prime Minister Sunak signed such a defense agreement with Kishida.

On January 9 local time, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Elysee Palace.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Yang

　　Traveling thousands of miles to Europe, Kishida must have carefully planned to have "results", so why did Japan sign an agreement with the United Kingdom?

　　As a defeated country in World War II, Japan was required to limit its military strength to defense and completely depend on the United States in terms of military affairs.

At present, more than 50,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan. U.S. soldiers often cause trouble and offend the public. However, the Japanese government not only accepts the garrison, but also pays huge "protection fees" according to the cost-sharing agreement of U.S. troops stationed in Japan.

According to reports, in the five years starting from 2022, Japan will bear a total of about 1,055 billion yen in expenses, an average annual increase of about 10 billion yen over the previous year.

　　The British "Financial Times" believes that Japanese military leaders are increasingly aware that their long-term dependence on Washington has left Japan at a disadvantage in developing military technology.

As a result, the country decided to strengthen arms and military technology cooperation with the United States' "closest ally" the United Kingdom, and such cooperation will not be opposed by the United States.

　　Japan is indeed not an ordinary country. In recent years, its military movements have become more and more worthy of vigilance. One NATO country's army is not enough, and another NATO country will come...

Data map: British Prime Minister Sunak.

　　There are even more benefits that the UK can reap. The Qatar Al Jazeera article gave the UK three goals:

　　First, the signing of the defense agreement between Britain and Japan is in line with the new British military doctrine expressed in the vision of a "global Britain" after Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.

　　In this vision, Britain found a defensive card called the "Pacific Transfer Strategy".

Before launching military cooperation with Japan in the Pacific, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia reached a "trilateral security partnership" (AUKUS), which aims to build nuclear submarines to monitor the Pacific Ocean, "and form a deterrent weapon against China's actions in the region."

　　The AUKUS deal would allow the UK to gain military bases in the Pacific and move its naval and nuclear fleet to Japanese ports.

　　Second, Japan has decided to increase its military budget to $315 billion in the next five years, an increase of 57%, which is a "budget that fascinates the United Kingdom."

Therefore, Britain was eager to strike a huge deal with the Japanese military.

Data map: "Typhoon" fighter jet.

　　3. In the next four years, the famous British "Typhoon" fighter will be retired. For this purpose, the UK has allocated a budget of over 2 billion pounds to jointly develop the world's latest aircraft with Japan and Italy, which requires the help of Japanese manufacturing technology.

　　The British military stated that this project will be able to produce the latest, fastest, and strongest fighter jets known in the world. Analysis pointed out that perhaps this is why Britain and Japan seek to "ensure air supremacy."

Because "in the face of China, the air force is very important to Japan."

As for London, it is to maintain "the dominance of fighter jets over Russia."

　　The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) also pointed out that Britain, Japan, and Italy have jointly developed sixth-generation fighter jets, targeting the "Indo-Pacific region".

Aiming at the "Indo-Pacific", but the ability has been questioned

　　In fact, when you mention the "Indo-Pacific region", you know that behind the signing of the agreement between Japan and Britain, there is an indispensable country's promotion-the United States, which continues to lead the "Indo-Pacific strategy".

　　Don't forget that the G7 countries that Kishida visited also have "dual identities", and they are also NATO members.

Data map: The scene of the NATO defense ministers meeting.

　　"Let the world's fifth-ranked British army join forces with the world's eighth-ranked Japanese army. Without the support of the United States, this agreement would not be possible to sign," Qatar's Al Jazeera website analyzed.

　　The United States led G7 countries and NATO member states to the "Indo-Pacific region" to stir up troubles. Japan entered the role and actively cooperated to stage a "unity" drama. It is also a mutual garrison and defense cooperation, opening the door to more NATO troops. Don't make too much guesswork about the plot.

　　Japan's Kyodo News pointed out more bluntly that this move by Japan and Britain aims to focus on "the rise of China" and deepen security cooperation.

Data map: British soldiers on duty.

　　However, regarding the defense cooperation between Britain and Japan, the British "Times" questioned its own country, thinking that given that "the United States is the guarantor to deter China", whether the existence of dozens or hundreds of British soldiers and military equipment has the ability to change the Japan's "confrontation with China" situation?

　　"Relevant countries' defense cooperation should be conducive to enhancing mutual understanding, trust and cooperation among countries, and should not create imaginary enemies, let alone introduce the old thinking of group confrontation into the Asia-Pacific region." On the 11th, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said during a regular press conference.

　　"The Asia-Pacific is a highland of peaceful development, not an arena for geopolitical games. China is a cooperative partner of all countries, not a challenge for any country." Wang Wenbin emphasized.

(Finish)