Chinanews.com, Beijing, January 16th (Chen Caixia) Recently, Japan has actively "loosened" its military, and its ambitions have been constantly exposed.

After the joint exercise with the United States, Britain and Australia, on January 16 local time, it will officially launch the air joint military exercise "Veer Guardian 2023" with India.

  Notably, this is the first deployment of Indian Air Force fighter jets to Japan.

The two sides will conduct actual combat confrontational training in order to further deepen military cooperation.

The Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) reported that Japanese and Indian fighter jets conducted joint exercises for the first time.

  The official explanation for the purpose of this exercise is that it "will pave the way for a greater degree of cooperation and operability between the air forces of the two countries."

But like Japan, India is also beefing up its military in response to what it calls "increasing security threats."

  In the context of the United States stepping up the implementation of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy", Japan and India jointly held a fighter jet exercise for the first time. What is the plan behind it?

Japan-India defense cooperation is constantly trying to form a "military alliance"?

  According to foreign media reports, as early as the 10th, the Indian Air Force formation arrived at the Baili Air Force Base near Tokyo, Japan to prepare for the exercise, including:

  · 4 Su-30MKI fighters

  · 2 C-17 transport aircraft

  · 1 Il-78 tanker

  · A contingent of about 150 people

  The Japan Air Self-Defense Force dispatched:

  4 F-2 multipurpose attack aircraft

  · 4 F-15 fighter jets

On January 10, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force welcomed the Indian Air Force at Pali Air Force Base.

Image source: Screenshot of Japan Air Self-Defense Force social media account

  Zhang Li, a professor at the Institute of South Asian Studies at Sichuan University, told a reporter from Chinanews.com that the exercise is part of a series of military strategic plans by Japan and India, reflecting the deepening cooperation between the two sides in the field of defense in recent years.

However, the number of fighter planes and personnel in this joint exercise is small, and its military significance is limited, and it is more of a symbolic significance.

  Recently, Japan and India have continued to approach defense cooperation.

In September 2022, Japan and India will hold the second "2+2" foreign ministers and defense ministers' meeting. The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation.

Subsequently, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy conducted a joint exercise.

This time, the two countries held a joint fighter jet exercise for the first time.

  Li Li, a professor at the Institute of International Relations at Tsinghua University, believes that Japan continues to break through the restrictions of the "exclusive defense" and "peaceful constitution" policies, and will seek more security cooperation between regional powers like India in the future. More possibilities beyond security cooperation.

  India's thoughts are more complicated. Previously, India mainly wanted to integrate into the economic development of the Asia-Pacific region through the "Act East Policy". Establish a closer defense relationship with Japan, strengthen technical exchanges on advanced weapons and equipment, and obtain more military and economic support.

  However, Li Li pointed out that although Japan and India need each other, it is more of a strategic cooperation and will not form a "military alliance".

"India will not easily break through its non-alignment policy and assume the obligations of the alliance. Neither Japan nor India is actually ready to assume the defense responsibility of other countries' security."

  Zhang Li also said that India's current focus is mainly on the Indian Ocean, while Japan mainly maintains the US-Japan alliance in the Pacific Ocean. Although Japan and India cooperate on the security level, they differ greatly in terms of cognition and domestic and foreign policies.

"The two sides have different strategic goals, and it is actually difficult to deepen cooperation."

"Indo-Pacific strategy" continues to tighten experts: China should be vigilant

  In fact, as early as November 2019, Japan and India reached an agreement on a joint air combat training plan in New Delhi, India, but due to the impact of the new crown epidemic, it was continuously postponed, and it was pushed back to 3 years later. This is very anxious to wait. Japan, which conducts joint exercises with Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighter jets.

Data map: Indian Su-30MKI fighter.

  "Nihon Keizai Shimbun" pointed out that from a military point of view, India's Su-30MKI fighter jets will provide Japan's Air Self-Defense Force with valuable opportunities for air combat training with Russian-made aircraft.

  Information from the Indian media shows that the Indian Air Force’s Su-30MKI multi-purpose fighter has a maximum speed of Mach 1.9, a maximum range of 3,000 kilometers, and a payload capacity of 8 tons. It can launch a variety of air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground precision guided weapons.

In addition, it also has advanced avionics and electronic warfare systems provided by Israel and France.

  On the other hand, Japanese fighter pilots can use this opportunity to gather intelligence about the basic capabilities of Su-30 fighters, such as air mobility, cruising range, fuel consumption, and maintenance turnaround time.

  Although the military significance is relatively limited, the Japan-India exercise has been regarded by foreign media as "pointing at China" - the exercise is in line with the previous statement issued after the "2+2" dialogue between the foreign ministers and defense ministers of Japan and India: China's shared concerns, India and Japan stand together."

Image source: Screenshot of Nikkei news report

  NC Bipindra, a defense and strategic affairs expert, told Nikkei that because the two participating countries are partners in the Quad Security Dialogue (Quad), "the exercise has become increasingly important" and that future versions may become more sophisticated. complex.

"China will be the focus of this exercise" because Japan and India share common interests.

  And behind this, the instigation of the United States is indispensable.

  Last week, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida went to the United States to meet with Biden.

While US-Japan relations are the focus in Washington, the White House Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs made it clear that India is their next goal in 2023.

  Zhang Li believes that the U.S. "Indo-Pacific strategy" is constantly tightening, including the U.S.-led, Japan-India and other important multilateral countries' cooperation in economic, military, supply chain and other fields, especially the increase in military security and air force tactical cooperation, China should be concerned and vigilant.

  "But at the same time, we also need to note that the Indo-Pacific region is still a relatively loose security complex, and there are great suspicions among countries. The interests involved are multiple and complex, especially India's perception of the Indo-Pacific region and the composition of its interests. There are still differences with Japan and the United States." Zhang Zhang said.

  Li Li believes that in response to the ever-increasing defense ties between Japan and India, China must strengthen its own military capabilities on the one hand, and on the other hand, Japan and India are neighbors that China cannot move away. Settle bilateral disputes.