China News Service, January 20 (Reporter Meng Xiangjun and Chen Tianhao) Since the Biden administration came to power, in order to cooperate with its "Indo-Pacific Strategy", the G7 countries have continued to deepen military security cooperation.

Recently, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, a member of the G7, visited many G7 member countries to express his "alliance".

　　However, these military and security cooperations are based on undermining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

No matter what kind of chess Japan, the United States and other countries want to play, the majority of Asia-Pacific countries oppose the Asia-Pacific region being engulfed by crisis and division.

Data map: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

　　Chinanews reporters invited Chen Yang, a visiting researcher at the Center for Japanese Studies at Liaoning University, and Joseph Gregory Mahoney, a professor at the School of Politics and International Relations at East China Normal University, to deepen their alliance with Japan and the United States and jointly promote the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" read.

Carefully preparing for the "big show"

Many issues are on the table

　　It has to be said that Kishida is well prepared for his week-long diplomatic "big show".

It can be said that he has worked hard to show his allies how "cooperative" Japan is.

　　In France, Kishida met with French President Macron and positioned France as a special partner.

In the first country of his visit, Kishida couldn't wait to emphasize "based on a free and open international order" and cooperate in the "Indo-Pacific region".

　　In Italy, Kishida shook hands with Italian Prime Minister Meloni. The two countries agreed to become strategic partners, create a security policy consultation mechanism, and strengthen security cooperation in the "Europe and Indo-Pacific" region.

　　In the UK, Kishida and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed the "Reciprocal Access Agreement" (RAA) after talks to promote the joint training of Japanese Self-Defense Forces and British troops and the garrison of troops on each other's territory.

　　In Canada, Kishida met with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, one of the key points was to carry out security cooperation "around China that strengthens maritime activities".

Kishida praised the Canadian version of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy", while Trudeau expressed support for Japan's substantial increase in defense spending and strengthening of its defense capabilities.

　　The last stop of Kishida's visit is also the "highlight" of diplomacy, which is arranged in the United States.

After meeting with US President Biden, he issued a joint statement, advocating the importance of the Japan-US alliance in the so-called "Indo-Pacific strategy", and said that the two countries will strengthen cooperation on the "biggest strategic challenge".

Data map: US President Biden.

　　Kishida also "reported" to Biden on major changes in Japan's security policy, which was welcomed by the latter.

Biden emphasized that the United States "will fully perform its defense-related responsibilities against Japan."

　　What are the topics discussed by the leaders of Japan and the United States this time?

　　1. Deepen cooperation in the field of economic security, including the research and development of artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, quantum and other cutting-edge technologies.

It is said that the United States has asked Japan to restrict exports to China in terms of cutting-edge semiconductors.

　　2. In terms of attack and defense against the enemy, strengthen cooperation on the development and use of Japanese capabilities to destroy missile bases within the territory of other countries.

　　3. Expand cooperation in the supply chain and industrial chain.

　　4. In the field of energy, discuss reaching a consensus on strengthening nuclear power generation and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

　　5. In the field of space, discuss extending the scope of application of Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty to space.

　　6. Discuss how to deal with the North Korean issue, the situation in Ukraine, and talk about the Taiwan issue.

　　7. Confirm the strengthening of G7 cooperation and promote the success of the G7 Hiroshima Summit.

"Counterweight China"

Japan and the U.S. Conspire to Get What They Need

　　Japan and the United States have both common goals and individual considerations.

The Japanese media can see at a glance that one of the focuses of this meeting is to "compete against China."

　　In this regard, Chen Yang told a reporter from Chinanews.com that Japan and the United States adopted the same wording "the biggest strategic challenge" to position China, first of all, it reflects the common cognitive positioning of the two countries towards China.

Based on this same understanding, Japan and the United States are coordinating and deepening cooperation to confront China.

　　From the perspective of the United States, it is more for the purpose of maintaining its own hegemony; from the perspective of Japan, it is to cooperate with the strategic deployment of the United States and promote its own military expansion by throwing out a new slogan.

Data map: The US "George Washington" aircraft carrier participated in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force exercise.

　　Chen Yang pointed out that Japan and the United States are anxious about competing with China in the field of emerging technologies, and have to cooperate with China to prevent China from becoming a leader and rule-maker in certain technological fields in the future.

　　"I do think that the United States is encouraging the militarization of Japan," Mahoney pointed out. The United States is doing this to "provoke China" on the one hand, and to strengthen the "Indo-Pacific" concept led by the United States on the other hand.

Even among fellow U.S. allies Japan and South Korea, the U.S. doesn't mind the potential for friction between the two countries, as it can exploit those tensions in various ways.

　　Mahoney also analyzed that the United States intends to sell more weapons to Japan, because selling weapons to the world is an important part of the economic development of the United States.

Perhaps Japan's introduction of the American "Tomahawk" missile is not only out of security needs, but also inseparable from the "salesman" of the United States?

Data map: The moment the US "Tomahawk" cruise missile was launched.

　　In short, Mahoney believes that the various actions of Japan and the United States to deepen the alliance and cooperation have made Asian countries "a little nervous."

　　Chen Yang noticed that not only Japan, but recently, the G7 and NATO are actively cooperating to promote the "Indo-Pacific Strategy", continuously deepening their security cooperation, building a supply chain industrial chain that excludes China, and attempting to introduce camp confrontation thinking into the Asia-Pacific.

　　He pointed out that these actions will only flood the Asia-Pacific with Cold War mentality and ideological confrontation, not only not conducive to the prosperity and stability of the region, but also contrary to the long-cherished wish of the countries in the region to pursue peaceful development.

Turn "shield" into "spear"

Why should we be wary of Japan?

　　In fact, before Kishida's visit, Japan's major actions at the end of 2022 have caused widespread concern in Asian countries, such as:

　　Adopted the new version of "National Security Strategy", "National Defense Strategy" and "Defense Force Preparation Plan", abandoning the principle of "exclusive defense"

　　Proposed that it will be committed to having the so-called "attack capability against enemy bases" and shift from defense to offense

　　・From fiscal year 2023 to fiscal year 2027, defense spending will increase greatly, and the total will increase to about 43 trillion yen

　　According to Chen Yang's analysis, the above-mentioned measures not only mean a fundamental change in Japan's security policy after the war, but also mean that the Japan-U.S. alliance has entered a new stage, that is, from the U.S. as the "spear" and Japan as the "shield" to Japan as both. "Spear" and "Shield" functions.

Data map: The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force held an annual exercise, and members of the Self-Defense Force performed a demonstration of air landing.

　　In particular, the Japanese government has made it clear that it will increase defense spending to more than 2% of GDP in the future, which means that the country will gradually break through the restrictions of the pacifist constitution and move towards becoming a military power.

Estimates show that if defense spending reaches more than 2% of GDP, Japan will become the fourth largest country in the world in military spending.

　　Chen Yang said that since the war, Japan has been deeply influenced by the United States in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economy and culture. Before developing its own armaments, Japan must win the nod of the United States.

　　In recent years, the overall strength of the United States has been declining, but in order to continue to maintain its hegemony, it has increasingly asked and encouraged its allies to share more responsibilities.

This time the Japanese government decided to significantly increase defense costs, which can be said to have responded to the demands of the United States in another way.

　　Chen Yang further pointed out that Japan is actually an active implementer and promoter of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy".

This country's military expansion has both the "guidance" of the United States and its own will.

Data map: The US "Reagan" nuclear-powered aircraft carrier parked at the US military base in Yokosuka, Japan.

　　Although the U.S., as an ally, has an obligation to protect Japan in accordance with the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and other incidents made Japan deeply feel that the U.S. "always only cares about itself at critical moments, regardless of its allies."

Therefore, Japan's active development of military power is also to avoid the embarrassment similar to the "Kabul moment" and "Saigon moment" in the future.

　　In Mahoney's view, Japan is not only trapped in the middle-income trap, but also in the "middle-power trap".

It depends on the United States for security and cannot achieve an independent foreign policy.

He believes that the Kishida regime may be "tired of following the orders of the United States" and is focusing on achieving intermediate goals as a springboard to add flexibility to Tokyo's foreign policy.

　　Chen Yang emphasized that considering that Japan has launched wars of aggression that brought painful disasters to neighboring countries and people, and that Japan has not yet thoroughly reflected on its wars of aggression, it is necessary to remain vigilant about its movements in the field of security and defense.

(Finish)