According to the Nikkei newspaper, NATO plans to establish a liaison office in Tokyo in 2024, which will serve as a hub for cooperation with Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.
This move by NATO has drawn opposition from China, which expressed its disapproval of the plan.
In May, Japan's ambassador to the United States announced the U.S.-led military alliance's intention to establish a Tokyo office, aiming to facilitate regional consultations. However, French President Emmanuel Macron raised objections to the proposal at the time.
China responded by stating that the Asia-Pacific region does not welcome what it referred to as "group confrontation." It urged Japan to exercise caution regarding military security issues, considering its history of aggression.
The Nikkei report highlights NATO's intention to deepen ties with its major partners in the Pacific region. The alliance plans to develop bilateral cooperation agreements with each partner, focusing on areas such as cybersecurity and space.
During his visit to Japan in January, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg pledged with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to strengthen ties in response to "historic" security challenges, citing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's growing military power.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson stated that Australia would provide further updates on its partnership arrangements in due course. The spokesperson emphasized that all NATO partners are transitioning to the new Individually Tailored Partnership Programme, which offers enhanced opportunities for cooperation in areas like training and information sharing to better prepare for future crisis management.
While Japan has no plans to become a member or semi-member state of NATO, Prime Minister Kishida is reportedly arranging to attend a NATO summit in Lithuania in July. South Korea's presidential office declined to comment on the report. Photo by DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison, Wikimedia commons.