Japan and Nato wake up deepening military ties to face China – Observer

Japanese Prime Minister Shigero Ishiba and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte agreed on Wednesday further deepening military ties, stressing the need to face threats from China, North Korea and Russia together.

Japan-which intensified defense ties with the United States, its main ally, and other friendly nations in the Indo-Pacific-has sought to deepen relations with NATO, fearing that the invasion of Ukraine by Russia could strengthen China’s assertiveness in the region.

“A stronger born will greatly benefit Japan“Ishiba argued at a joint press conference after the talks with Rutte, who traveled to Japan for the first time since he became secretary general of the organization in October.

In a joint statement issued after the talks, Ishiba and Rutte said that the reinforcement of industrial defense cooperation is “a shared priority” and that they plan to focus on the development of advanced and double use technologies while improving their standardization.

Mark Rutte appeals in Tokyo by reinforcing Nato Japan military cooperation

Both also agreed to intensify cooperation on cyber defense and space, as well as joint military exercises, and also discussed drones use and artificial intelligence.

Ishiba and Rutte further stated that they “vehemently condemn” the growing military ties between North Korea and Russia, including the use of missiles and North Korean troops by Russia against Ukraine, while expressing concern about China’s support for Russian industrial defense base.

North Korea sends another 3,000 soldiers to Russia

Both also appealed to the maintenance of an open and open Indo-Pacific and opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the seas of East and Southern China and encouraged Beijing to improve the transparency of their armed forces and cooperate in arms control, appealing to peace and stability in Taiwan’s narrow.

China prolongs military maneuvers around Taiwan

NATO leader told reporters that China has been making a great military effortseeking to control key technologies, critical infrastructures and supply chains, continuing to perform “destabilizing activities” in the Indo-Pacific.

Rutte praised Japan’s contributions to support Ukraine In the war against Russia and settled with Tokyo’s availability to participate in a NATO command to support Ukraine, expressed by Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on Tuesday.

NATO safety and training assistance to Ukraine (NSATU) is headquartered at a US military base in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Rutte explained that NSATU “helps Ukraine fight today, but also strengthen its armed forces for tomorrow.”

The details of Japan’s participation have yet to be discussed, but the force of Japanese self-defense, if positioned, is not expected to involve combative roles due to the country’s pacifist principles in the postwar.