At the beginning of the new year, Japanese diplomacy moves frequently, and senior officials are very busy. On June 4th, 65438/KLOC-0, Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada visited Belgium for the first time. On the morning of October 5th, 65438/KLOC-0, Japanese Foreign Minister kishida fumio left Tokyo for Europe. On the 6th, he and Tomomi Inada attended the "2+2" meeting of Japanese and French foreign ministers and defense chiefs in France. At the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on strengthening the cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and the French army and the situation in the South China Sea. Next, on 9th and 10, kishida fumio went to the Czech Republic and Ireland to hold talks with their foreign ministers respectively. Before the "2+2" meeting between defense ministers and foreign ministers of Japan and France, Tomomi Inada will first visit NATO headquarters and hold talks with NATO Secretary General, with a view to promoting cooperation between Japan and NATO in the fields of intelligence sharing and cyber defense. According to the Japanese government, the Japanese defense minister and foreign minister went to Europe this time to discuss bilateral relations and regional situation with European countries and cooperate to promote peace and stability in the international community. But their trip has a deeper purpose.

In recent years, Japan is gradually strengthening its ties with NATO countries and accelerating its military cooperation with NATO. In addition to the agreement that Japan plans to sign with France on the mutual provision of goods and services, Japan has previously signed similar agreements with the United States and Britain. Japan has also participated in NATO military exercises many times. In 20 14, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and then NATO Secretary General Rasmussen signed a partnership cooperation plan. The two sides decided to deepen cooperation in the fields of security and defense, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. The two sides also decided to share information and hold joint exercises in anti-piracy operations in Somali waters. 2065438+In March 2005, Japan participated in NATO's "Annual Crisis Management" exercise. The exercise simulated NATO's support for allies of non-member countries. 2065438+06161On October 24th, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and British Air Force began to hold a joint exercise codenamed "Northern Guardian" in the northeast of Japan. Four British Air Force eurofighter typhoon took off from Malaysia on the 22nd and arrived at Misawa Air Force Base in Aomori Prefecture in the evening. At the same time, they also arrived at aerial tankers and transport planes. About 200 people from the British Air Force participated in the exercise. Since 24th, British warplanes have been training in air defense, air combat and ship attack together with four F-2 fighters stationed in Misawa base of Japan Air Self-Defense Force and four F- 15 fighters stationed in Chitose base of Hokkaido. The training area is the sea and airspace along the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan around the Misawa base. This is the first time that the Japan Air Self-Defense Force has held a joint military exercise with a country outside the United States, and it is also the first time that a British fighter plane has flown to East Asia since the end of the Cold War 25 years ago. On April 2065438+06165438+1October, Japan also conducted a joint exercise with the United States, code-named "Sword". 2065438+In July 2006, Reuters reported that according to American government sources, Japan intends to join NATO's "Sea Sparrow" missile research and development project, which is a ship-borne weapon specially used to destroy anti-ship missiles and air targets. The source also said that this project may also lay the foundation for Japan's future defense equipment export plan.

Whether it is actively participating in NATO military exercises, participating in the research and development of new weapons, or sending senior officials to NATO countries, the Japanese government should have two purposes.

The first is to create conditions for its Self-Defense Forces to go abroad, that is, to look for opportunities to expand the scope of its overseas activities and strengthen Japan's military presence overseas. Since the entry into force of Japan's new security law in March 20 16, Japan has further passed a cabinet resolution, giving the Self-Defense Forces overseas policing tasks and giving them the power to take the initiative to launch attacks under certain circumstances.

Secondly, Japan tried to win over Britain, France and other countries to balance China and North Korea in the Asia-Pacific region. Before leaving on the 5th, kishida fumio said at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, "In the face of the challenges of some countries to the international order and international law, Japan will cooperate with France and other countries that share common values in politics and security." In this regard, Japanese domestic media explained that senior Japanese officials' visits to Europe actually focused on neighboring countries in Japan. Considering China's growing national strength and its rights protection activities in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, Japan finds it increasingly difficult to support itself. Therefore, Japan should hope that this trip to Europe can win over France and other countries to contain China. At the same time, at the "2+2" meeting between Japan and France, Japan will also explain to France the trend of North Korea's development of nuclear weapons, apparently hoping that France can put pressure on North Korea for this.