NATO is considering the exposure of the opening of the opening of the Liaison Office in Tokyo, which has received great attention internationally.Fair collision between the two opinions and opposition.In addition to China ’s strong opposition, NATO is also opposed to France.
In a sense, this reflects the nature of NATO and the idea of NATO's affairs in the Pacific region of India.On the other hand, there are misunderstandings about the favors and opponents.Let's analyze it carefully.
First of all, the opening of the liaison office plan did not suddenly appear.In other words, because of the office, the relationship between NATO and Japan and other partner countries will be strengthened immediately.On the contrary, the relationship between NATO and Japan has gradually deepened in recent years, so that the plan to open the liaison office is on the agenda.
From the point of view of opposing NATO's participation in Indo -Pacific Affairs, of course, it will also oppose the establishment of offices in Tokyo.This is the position of the Chinese government.If you hate the existence of the United States, you will also hate the existence of the United States Alliance, and naturally you will hate NATO's participation.For example, at a press conference on May 12, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wang Wenbin said: "NATO has continuously strengthened relations with the Asia -Pacific countries, persisted in entering Asia -Pacific in the east, intervention in regional affairs, and provoking camp confrontation."The country's high degree of alertness. "
However, China also misunderstood NATO, that is, "Europe is led by the United States with nose".NATO is the United States -led military alliance, which is the fact.But this does not mean that everything can be as expected to the United States.Europe itself is also influenced by the situation of Indo -Pacific Security, including China's rise, and is seeking its own way of participation.
On this basis, what does it mean to open NATO contact offices in Tokyo?First of all, it is necessary to point out that NATO clearly stated that it should last long to participate in Indo -Pacific affairs.Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and other nations were first invited to participate in the Madrid summit held in June 2022. It was scheduled to be held in the Lithuanian capital of Vernis in July this year. The above four leaders will attend again.The Tokyo Office is not only a sudden rise, but also the symbolic existence of continuous participation in Indo -Pacific affairs as NATO in the future.
NATO Liaison Office is specifically centered on Tokyo, collecting information on Japan and regional situations, and reporting to the NATO headquarters of Brussels. At the same time, it is expected to coordinate with Japan and other partners.
In the approval faction of the establishment of a liaison office, there is an opinion that NATO is committed to Indo -Pacific Security, including Japan, and has great benefits to suppressing China.But this expectation is too high, and the actual effect will be limited.
On the contrary, the opposition promotes the "danger" to open the office.This is also a bit exaggerated.What is currently discussing is the offices that are only one person, which will not allow the security environment to ensure the changes in the safety guarantee environment and other areas.Liaison offices can do very limited things.
And, even if a liaison office has been established in Tokyo, NATO's focus will not be transferred from the European Atlantic region to the Pacific India.NATO will still be an alliance in the European Atlantic region in the future.For example, NATO has a liaison office in the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia, but NATO's focus has not shifted to Africa.This is very natural.If this is considered, opening a liaison office is not a big debate point.
If you want to prevent NATO from participating in Indo -Pacific Affairs, you must explain to NATO clearly, and issues related to regional security guarantee, including China, will not affect the NATO allies, so you can rest assured.But the current situation is that in order to avoid negatively affected, NATO has to participate or at least care about India -Pacific affairs.European countries were originally negative about participating in Indo -Pacific affairs, which caused NATO to go to this step to this step, but China.
The author is an associate professor at Qingyingyi University in Japan
