Japan and NATO: A New Cooperation to Face China and Russia

 

Japan, a country known as a loyal ally of the United States (US), is now getting closer to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). According to media reports, NATO will establish a liaison office in Tokyo in 2024, which will be the first in Asia. The office will serve as a center for cooperation with NATO's partners in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.

What are the goals and benefits of this cooperation? How do China and Russia, two countries that are considered the main threats by NATO and Japan, react? And what are the implications for regional stability and security?

Why Does Japan Need NATO?

Japan is a country that relies heavily on the US for its security protection. Since World War II, Japan has had a defense alliance with the US, which places about 50 thousand of its troops in Japan's territory. The US also guarantees that it will defend Japan if there is an attack from outside, including from China or North Korea.

However, in recent years, Japan felt the need to strengthen its security cooperation with other countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. This is due to several factors, such as:

- The increasing military power of China, which continues to expand its influence in the South China Sea and East China Sea. China also has a territorial dispute with Japan over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, which are rich in natural resources. China often sends its ships and planes to challenge Japan's claim over the islands.

- The nuclear threat of North Korea, which continues to develop its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. North Korea once launched its missiles over Japan's territory, causing fear and anger among the Japanese people. North Korea also refuses to dialogue with Japan on the issue of abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s.

- The uncertainty of US commitment, which emerged due to the change of US foreign policy under the administration of Donald Trump. Trump once demanded that Japan pay more for the joint defense costs, threatened to withdraw US troops from Japan, and ignored Japan's role in regional issues such as Korean peace. Although the US-Japan relationship improved under the administration of Joe Biden, Japan still wants to have other options besides relying on the US.

Therefore, Japan began to establish closer relations with other countries that have common interests in maintaining regional stability and security. One of the ways that Japan did was by increasing cooperation with NATO, a military alliance consisting of 30 member countries, mostly from Europe and North America.

What Are The Forms of Cooperation Between Japan and NATO?

Japan and NATO already have a long-standing relationship, since the 1990s. They have cooperated in peacekeeping missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and the Indian Ocean. They also have similar views on global threats such as terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, cyber attacks, and climate change.

However, in recent years, cooperation between Japan and NATO has increased, especially in facing challenges from China and Russia. Here are some forms of cooperation that have been or are planned by Japan and NATO:

- Establishing a liaison office in Tokyo. According to media reports, NATO will open its liaison office in Tokyo in 2024, which will be the first in Asia. The office will serve as a center for cooperation with NATO's partners in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. The office will also facilitate consultation and coordination between Japan and NATO on regional and global security issues.

- Preparing bilateral cooperation documents. NATO will also deepen its relations with its four main partners in the Pacific, namely Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. NATO will prepare bilateral cooperation documents with each partner, which will form the basis for collaboration on issues such as cyber security and space security. These documents will replace the existing partnership arrangements that will expire in 2024.

- Increasing political and military dialogue. Japan and NATO will also increase the frequency and intensity of their political and military dialogue, both at high and technical levels. In January last year, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg visited Japan and met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. They pledged to strengthen their relations in facing security challenges "of historic proportions". Stoltenberg also invited Kishida to attend the NATO summit in Lithuania in July this year.

- Conducting joint exercises and sharing information. Japan and NATO will also conduct joint exercises and share information in areas relevant to regional and global security. For example, Japan and NATO conducted an anti-piracy exercise in the Indian Ocean in 2019. Japan also participated in the Cyber Coalition exercise organized by NATO in 2020. In addition, Japan and NATO will increase information exchange on the security situation in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and the Korean Peninsula.

 How Do China and Russia React?

China and Russia, two countries that are considered the main threats by Japan and NATO, are certainly not happy with this cooperation. China and Russia view this cooperation as an attempt to isolate and contain them, and to disrupt regional stability.

China has condemned the plan to open a NATO liaison office in Tokyo as an attempt to confront groups. China also urged Japan to be very careful in military security matters because of Japan's history of aggression against China in the past. China also accused Japan of being a "puppet" of the US that interferes in China's internal affairs, such as the issues of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet.

Russia has also criticized the cooperation between Japan and NATO as an attempt to provoke Russia and threaten its interests. Russia also accused Japan of being a "follower" of the US that supports Western sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Russia also rejects Japan's claim over the South Kuril Islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories.

What Are The Implications For Regional Stability And Security?

The cooperation between Japan and NATO has positive and negative impacts for regional stability and security. On the one hand, this cooperation can enhance the defense capabilities of Japan and NATO's partners in the Asia-Pacific region.