By Zi Ge
子歌
Japanese media reported that Italian aircraft carrier formation Cavour had berthed at Japan's Port of Yokosuka on August 22 for the first time, and conducted joint training with JMSDF in the following days. In recent years, several NATO members have dispatched aircraft carriers and other vessels to enhance their presence in the Pacific.
据日本媒体报道，8月22日，意大利“加富尔”号航母编队首次停靠日本横须贺港，并在随后几天与日本海上自卫队举行联合训练。近年来，北约多个成员国纷纷派遣航母等舰船前往太平洋地区，意图在此寻找存在感。
It is reported that an Italian formation comprising aircraft carrier Cavour and the multipurpose FREMM frigate "Alpino" set sail in April from Italy's La Spezia Naval Base and headed for the Asia Pacific for a five-month-long military deployment, intending to visit 15 ports of 14 countries for military and diplomatic activities. After a visit to Guam and a bilateral military exercise with the US Navy, the carrier formation joined the US Navy's Independence-class littoral combat ships for a visit to countries such as Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Indonesia before arriving at Japan's Port of Yokosuka.
报道称，今年4月，由“加富尔”号航母和“阿尔皮诺”号多用途护卫舰组成的编队，从意大利拉斯佩齐亚海军基地出发，前往亚太地区进行为期5个月的军事部署，计划访问14个国家的15个港口以开展军事外交活动。该航母编队在访问美国关岛基地并与美国海军举行双边军事演习后，又与美国海军独立级濒海战斗舰组成编队，访问澳大利亚、菲律宾、新加坡、印度尼西亚等国，随后抵达日本横须贺港。
The Italian side made it clear that the visit was aimed to enhance its presence in the Indo-Pacific. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto visited Japan concurrently, and the two sides had discussions about a series of defense cooperation projects, including jointly developing the next-generation fighters with the UK. Previously the Italian government already started negotiations with Japan on the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) for the purpose of realizing mutual guarantee of combat supplies. They planned to complete the negotiations and sign the agreement in the spring of 2025.
意大利方面表示，此次访问是为“加强在印太地区的存在感”。意大利国防部长克罗塞托也在同一时期访问日本，与日本就日意英三国共同开发下一代战斗机等防务合作进行磋商。此前，意大利政府已启动与日本关于《物资劳务相互提供协定》的谈判，旨在实现日意两国作战资源的互通与保障，计划于2025年春完成谈判并签署协议。
In addition to Italy, several other NATO members and US allies have also dispatched or planned to dispatch aircraft carriers or naval vessels to the Asia Pacific. The UK's HMS Prince of Wales carrier strike group(CSG) is expected to head for the Pacific in 2025; France plans to send the Charles de Gaulle CSG to the region too, and Norway has announced its decision to join the UK CSG's operations in the Asia Pacific – all including the plan to berth by Japanese coast and conduct joint training and exchange with JSDF. Before Italy, four US allies – Canada, New Zealand, Germany and Singapore – have already sent military vessels to Japan in August.
除意大利外，北约的多个成员国和美国其他盟友也已经或准备派遣航母等舰船前往亚太地区。英国“威尔士亲王”号航母战斗群预计2025年将前往太平洋地区，法国计划派遣“戴高乐”号航母战斗群前往太平洋地区，挪威也宣布将参与英国航母战斗群前往亚太地区的行动。这些行动计划均设置停靠日本并与日本自卫队训练互动的环节。而进入8月以来，在意大利之前，已有加拿大、新西兰、德国和新加坡等4个美国盟国的军舰访问日本。
In the meantime, the JASDF has had intensive joint training with the air forces of France, Germany, Italy and Australia recently. Military forces from 14 countries have already had bilateral training or exercise with JMSDF and JASDF this year.
同时，日本航空自卫队近期密集与法国、德国、意大利和澳大利亚空军开展联合训练。今年以来，已有14个国家的军队与日本海上自卫队和航空自卫队举行双边演训。
Analysts said among the countries that have recently dispatched or planned to dispatch military vessels to Japan are NATO members, such as Italy, Germany, France, Canada, and the UK, Five Eyes members like New Zealand, and those that completely rely on US' security protection such as Singapore. In US' eyes, the alliances and cooperation mechanisms, be it the Japan-US alliance, NATO or Five Eyes, are just strategic resources and tools at its service. How to wield them, where they can operate, and how to showcase their strengths are all up to the US.
分析人士指出，在近期已经派遣或准备派遣军舰赴日本的国家中，既有意大利、德国、法国、加拿大和英国等北约成员国，也有新西兰等“五眼联盟”成员国，还包括新加坡这样完全依赖美国安全保障的国家。实际上，日美同盟、北约、“五眼联盟”等同盟组织和合作机制，均被美国视为战略资源和工具，其运作方式、行动区域和展示力量的策略均由美国主导。
Recent years have seen the US adjust its military deployment in the Asia Pacific by relying more on its allies, pushing NATO's military expansion to the region, and urging its allies to get involved in the major-country confrontation, in a bid to destroy regional security order. Multiple NATO members sending military vessels to the Asia Pacific – with great fanfare but on a limited scale – show their intention to apple-polish the US and enhance their presence in the region.
近年来，美国逐渐调整在亚太地区的军事布局，倾向于依托盟友机制，推动北约军事力量向亚太集结，促使盟友国家在亚太参与大国对抗，意图破坏该地区的安全秩序。北约的多个成员国派遣军舰远赴亚太地区，且这些派遣行动往往声势大、规模小，更多地体现出向美国示好和刷存在感的特征。
Under US' instigation, NATO has made it its strategic goal to heighten its influence in the Asia Pacific. In December 2020, it released a strategic initiative stressing the need to intensify security cooperation with partners in the region, which was re-emphasized in its new Strategic Concept issued in June 2022. Japan, which has been very active in introducing NATO's military strengths to the Asia Pacific, is now regarded by many members as a nice partner.
在美国推动下，北约已将扩展在亚太地区的影响力作为战略目标。2020年12月，北约发布战略倡议，明确提出需要加强与亚太伙伴国的安全合作。2022年6月，北约出台新版联盟战略指导文件，其中包括强化亚太伙伴关系的内容。日本对于引入北约军事力量进入亚太地区表现出较大的积极性，因此被北约多个成员国视为合作对象。
Bringing outside countries to the Asian Pacific region is Japan's key military and diplomatic strategy in recent years. With US' backing and acquiescence, Japan has kept selecting partners from US allies, and agitated them to meddle in regional security affairs by establishing regular consultation mechanisms with them, signing bilateral military agreements, and organizing multilateral exercises, all to serve its own strategic interests.
对日本而言，拉拢域外国家进入亚太地区是其近年来军事外交的核心策略。在美国的支持和默许下，日本不断从美国的军事盟友圈中挑选伙伴，通过建立定期协商机制、签订双边军事协议、组织多边联合军事演习等方式，怂恿域外国家参与亚太地区的安全事务，为自身谋取战略利益布局。
According to analysts, the frequent dispatch of military vessels and aircraft to the Asia Pacific by multiple countries under US and Japan's instigation will stir up conflict and confrontation, disrupt the current order and security situation, and threaten regional stability. Relevant moves and developments are worth close attention and high vigilance.
分析人士指出，多国在美国和日本的怂恿下，频繁派遣军舰和飞机前往亚太地区挑动冲突对抗，将打乱地区现有的秩序和安全格局，威胁地区安全稳定，相关动向值得关注和警惕。
