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NEW DELHI: The potential broadening of the AUKUS military alliance to include Japan has sparked concerns among analysts about the pact morphing into an “Asian Nato,” escalating militarism in Japan, and destabilizing the Asia-Pacific region. The defense ministers of the US, UK, and Australia are set to discuss this expansion, focusing on joint development in areas such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and cyber technology.
During a summit in Washington on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are expected to discuss Japan’s inclusion in AUKUS, marking a significant step that has raised eyebrows among regional countries and the international community over nuclear proliferation risks.
China has voiced grave concerns over the AUKUS expansion, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticizing the move. “We oppose relevant countries cobbling together exclusive groupings and stoking bloc confrontation,” Mao said, emphasizing the need for Japan to heed historical lessons and exercise caution on military and security issues.
The expansion is seen as part of the US’s strategy to bolster its Indo-Pacific hegemony and encircle China through various coalitions. Japan, with its technological prowess and strategic alignment with US policies, emerges as a prime candidate for AUKUS membership. This move aligns with Japan’s ambitions to boost its defense industry and military capabilities.
Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center of East China Normal University, highlighted Japan’s attempts to sidestep its pacifist constitution and leverage AUKUS for militaristic advancements. The potential inclusion in AUKUS is seen as an opportunity by Prime Minister Kishida to garner domestic support amid a crisis of trust, especially in light of Japan’s increasing military engagements with the US, Australia, and the Philippines.
Experts warn that AUKUS’s establishment and potential expansion pose risks of nuclear proliferation and could lead to increased arms races and confrontations in the region. This expansion, rooted in Cold War mentality, challenges regional security, especially concerning sensitive issues like the South China Sea and the Taiwan question.
(With inputs from agencies)
During a summit in Washington on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are expected to discuss Japan’s inclusion in AUKUS, marking a significant step that has raised eyebrows among regional countries and the international community over nuclear proliferation risks.
China has voiced grave concerns over the AUKUS expansion, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticizing the move. “We oppose relevant countries cobbling together exclusive groupings and stoking bloc confrontation,” Mao said, emphasizing the need for Japan to heed historical lessons and exercise caution on military and security issues.
The expansion is seen as part of the US’s strategy to bolster its Indo-Pacific hegemony and encircle China through various coalitions. Japan, with its technological prowess and strategic alignment with US policies, emerges as a prime candidate for AUKUS membership. This move aligns with Japan’s ambitions to boost its defense industry and military capabilities.
Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center of East China Normal University, highlighted Japan’s attempts to sidestep its pacifist constitution and leverage AUKUS for militaristic advancements. The potential inclusion in AUKUS is seen as an opportunity by Prime Minister Kishida to garner domestic support amid a crisis of trust, especially in light of Japan’s increasing military engagements with the US, Australia, and the Philippines.
Experts warn that AUKUS’s establishment and potential expansion pose risks of nuclear proliferation and could lead to increased arms races and confrontations in the region. This expansion, rooted in Cold War mentality, challenges regional security, especially concerning sensitive issues like the South China Sea and the Taiwan question.
(With inputs from agencies)
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