By Li Hai
李海
The French, German and Spanish air force troops arrived in north Japan successively from July 19 to 25 to join the Japan Air Self-Defense Force(JASDF) for a joint exercise. As the three countries are important European members of NATO and the exercise was held close to the Japan-Russia border, the exercise is generally believed to be an important sign of NATO's reinforced efforts to extend its military antenna to Asia Pacific, which will add multiple risks to the international situation.
7月19日至25日，法国、德国、西班牙3国派空军力量抵达日本北部，与日本航空自卫队举行联合军演。由于法德西3国均为北约的重要欧洲成员国，军演场地之一又紧邻日俄边界，舆论普遍认为，这是北约加力将军事触角向亚太地区延伸的重要迹象，将给国际局势带来多重风险。
The exercise, codenamed Nippon Skies, marked the first time that the air forces of France, Germany and Spain were deployed in Japan at the same time, and that the JASDF and the Spanish Air Force had joint training on Japanese soil. The three European countries have prepared for this for a long time and dispatched a strong participating lineup, including 12 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, 12 Panavia Tornado fighters, 4 Rafale fighters, 4 H145M military helicopters, and 10 military transport/refueling aircraft.
此次联演被命名为“日本天空”，这是法德西3国空军首次同时在日本部署，也是日本航空自卫队首次与西班牙空军在日本本土进行联训。欧洲3国对此筹划已久，且派出较强参演阵容：包括12架“台风”战斗机、12架“狂风”战斗机、4架“阵风”战斗机、4架H145M军用直升机和10架军用运输/加油机。
Commentators said the 30-plus fighters and their accompanying transport/refueling aircraft from Europe are enough to constitute an offensive air combat formation capable of performing various tasks. Such a large participating lineup reflected how important Asia Pacific, especially Japan is for NATO's European members and mirrored NATO's eagerness to expand eastward to the Asia Pacific following in America's steps. As NATO is increasingly reduced to being America's tool, introducing it to Asia Pacific is a key strategic move for Japan to serve its own secret agenda.
评论称，欧洲3国赴日本参演的30余架战斗机及伴航的运输/加油机，足以形成可执行多样化任务的进攻型空中作战编队。这凸显出亚太地区特别是日本在北约欧洲成员国心目中的分量，也折射出北约跟随美国步调“东进”亚太的态势。而在美国将北约进一步“工具化”的背景下，引北约“入亚”已成为日本借机发力的重要战略方向之一。
Through the Nippon Skies joint exercise, Japan and the three European countries have some shared interests while also having their separate ax to grind.
对于“日本天空”军演，日本和3个北约欧洲成员国既有利益契合点，也有各自考量。
As the host country, Japan aims to kill several birds with one stone by taking advantage of the assembly of NATO troops in the Asia Pacific. First, it hopes to take the opportunity to resume its "normal country" state and even expand its global influence by leveraging European forces. Second, it hopes to rely on the NATO forces in East Asia to pressure its opponents on territorial disputes and other issues. Third, it hopes to draw on NATO's experience in mixed air combat formation to improve its own air offense/defense system and pave the way for further cooperation with more European countries in the future.
作为演习“东道国”，日本有意借北约欧洲成员国向亚太“集结”的机会，实现多重图谋。一是借力突破战后体制，恢复“正常国家”身份，乃至进一步“借船出海”，拓展全球影响力。二是将北约势力引进东亚地区，协助日本在领土争议等问题上打压对手。三是参考北约空中联合编队作战经验，完善空中攻防作战思想，为日后与更多欧洲国家开展合作奠基铺路。
In short, Japan is planning to "fish in troubled waters" leveraged on the NATO framework, including further breaking the exclusively defense-oriented policy and forming offensive military forces of its own.
换言之，日本试图依托北约框架“浑水摸鱼”，进一步突破“专守防卫”原则限制，打造进攻型军事力量。
The three European NATO members have both common and separate considerations.
3个北约欧洲成员国赴日参演，既有相同目的，又各怀心思。
The three countries are jointly developing a "Future Combat Air System (FCAS)". The real-combat exercise in Japan could help them explore the R&D route and important parameters for new-generation fighters and test the long-range rapid mobility deployment and strike capabilities of their air force equipment, personnel and supplies, demonstrating their influence in Asian Pacific affairs. They could also help familiarize Japan with NATO's joint air combat operations, thus improving their military interoperability and cementing Japan's position as a NATO partner.
相同之处在于，3国正在联合开发“未来空中作战系统”，此次实战化演习可帮助其探索新一代战斗机研发路径和重要参数，并检验空军装备、人员及物资的远程快速机动、部署和打击能力，彰显其对亚太事务的影响力。3国帮助日本熟悉北约空中联合作战情况，有助于提升日本与北约军事“互通性”，坐实其北约“伙伴国”身份。
However, the three European countries do have their divergences, as indicated by their choice of exercise location. Germany and Spain chose the airspace near the Chitose Air Base in Japan's Hokkaido, which is near the disputed islands between Japan and Russia, and mobilized Japan's relatively new F-35 and F-15 fighters, in an obvious attempt to deter Russia and root for Ukraine. In contrast, France chose the Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki, which is mainly used to station Japan's relatively old F-2 fighters that usually take part in anti-ship operations, indicating Paris' wish to maintain independence in the Asia Pacific and strengthen its independent military presence.
3国的不同之处，从其在日本选择的军演场地上可见一斑。德国和西班牙的演习场地，选在日本北海道千岁空军基地附近空域，距离日俄争议岛屿较近，且演习“伙伴”是日本较新锐的F-35和F-15战斗机，显然有借军演敲打俄罗斯、彰显“挺乌”立场的意味。反观法国，则将参演地点选定在茨城百里基地，该基地主要驻扎日本相对老旧主要用于反舰作战的F-2战斗机，这表明法国希望在亚太地区保持独立声音，专注于展示独立军事存在。
The security situation in Asia Pacific has become increasingly complex in recent years. NATO's European members, egged by the US, have stepped up efforts to engage in the Asia Pacific by sending vessels and military aircraft to the region. Japan, America's important ally in the region, is now a key military partner for the European countries, being more than willing to act as the vanguard and bridgehead for NATO's Asian Pacific expansion.
近年来，亚太地区安全形势日趋复杂。在美国推动和怂恿下，北约欧洲成员国逐渐加力“入局”亚太，纷纷向该区域派遣舰船和军机。日本作为美国在亚太地区的重要盟友，成为北约欧洲成员国在该地区开展军事合作的重要对象。日本也主动充当北约“亚太化”的“急先锋”和“桥头堡”。
Japan and NATO have released a new four-year programme for security cooperation, which is focused on addressing cyber and information war regardless of geographical limitations, to enhance their defense cooperation. Japan's latest defense white paper 2024 adopted on July 12 continued to emphasize deepening the defense cooperation with relevant countries. Japan's expansion of its military influence by bringing NATO to Asia Pacific will exert a string of negative effects on the regional situation.
日本和北约已发布新的《安全合作四年计划》，重点是应对不受地理因素制约的网络和信息战，深化日欧防务合作。12日，日本通过2024年版《防卫白皮书》，继续强调与相关国家深化防务合作。日本引北约“入亚”、借机扩展军事影响力，将给地区局势带来多重负面影响。
