By Sui Changquan and Xu Shiwei

隋长权、徐世伟

Recently, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) and the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) in the Eastern Mediterranean. The two sides dispatched five vessels for the exercise and conducted training on subjects including maneuvering exercises, communications drills, underwater explosive detection, and so on. Besides, sailors from both sides visited each other's ships in a cross-deck exercise.

近日，日本海上自卫队与北约常设海上第二大队、海上第二扫雷大队，在东地中海附近海域举行代号为“通行”的战术演练。双方共派出5艘舰艇参演，演练了水上机动、通信联络、水下爆炸物探测等课目。另外，双方舰员在跨甲板演练活动中进行了互访交流。

According to a participating NATO official, the exercise has improved the interoperability and cooperation ability between NATO and Japan, enhanced the partnership between the two sides, and demonstrated the commitment of the alliance to ensuring the freedom of navigation and addressing regional security threats. Some foreign media commented that the exercise is of great significance in the context of the continuous tension in the security situations around the Mediterranean.

参演北约指挥官称，此次演练提升了北约和日本的互操作性和合作能力，增进了双方伙伴关系，显示出联盟确保航行自由和应对区域安全威胁的承诺。有外媒评论称，在当前地中海周边安全局势持续紧张的情况下，此次演练颇具深意。

Japan intends to reach three objectives through the exercise.

日本试图通过此次演练达到“一石三鸟”的目的。

The first is to actively respond to the military cooperation with NATO. Since the beginning of this year, the security cooperation between Japan and NATO has been enhanced and tended to be institutionalized. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has participated in NATO summits for three consecutive years. Meanwhile, NATO members have participated more frequently in joint training activities around Japan. In the first half of this year alone, at least 14 countries have conducted nearly 30 joint training activities with Japan in their surrounding areas. In contrast, Japan seldom participated in joint training activities in Europe. This exercise is considered an active response to the military cooperation with NATO by Japan.

一是积极回应与北约的军事合作。今年以来，日本与北约的安全合作持续升温并不断趋于机制化。日本首相岸田文雄连续第3年参加北约峰会，北约成员国赴日本周边参加联合演训活动更加频繁，仅上半年，就有至少14个国家与日本在其周边进行了近30次联合演训。相比而言，日本赴欧洲地区进行联合演训的次数较少，此次演练被视为日本对双方军事合作进行的有力回应。

The second is an ocean-going test for Starlink communication. Japan Training Squadron's JS Kashima in the exercise has been equipped with Starlink Internet satellite communication antenna in June this year. Japan has designed a 175-day overseas patrol training mission covering 11 countries to test the communication performance of Starlink and achieve full coverage of the ground, air, and maritime Self-Defense Force as soon as possible. This joint exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean is a part of the mission.

二是对“星链”通信进行远洋测试。参加此次演练的日本“鹿岛”号训练舰，于今年6月配备“星链”互联网卫星通信天线。为测试“星链”通信性能，以便尽快让“星链”通信全面覆盖陆海空自卫队，日本设计了为期175天覆盖11个国家的海外巡访训练任务。此次在东地中海进行联合军演，是上述训练任务中的一项计划。

The third is to accelerate the military integration with NATO. Encouraged by the US, the military integration between the US and Japan has been gradually expanding from the two countries to Japan and the allies of the US. This joint exercise involved maneuvering exercises, communications drills, and underwater explosive detection, and so on. It aims to improve the interoperability of the two sides and deepen the military integration between Japan and the US as well as its allies.

三是加速推动与北约军事一体化。在美国鼓动下，日美军事一体化的范围逐渐扩大，由单纯的日美两国扩展到日本与美国及其盟友间的一体化。此次演习涉及水上机动、通信联络、水下爆炸物探测等内容，旨在通过演练加强双方互操作性，推动日本与美国及其盟友的军事一体化走深走实。

Judging from the time, location, and participating forces of the joint exercise, NATO also has its own calculations.

从参演时间、地点和参演力量等方面看，北约参加此次演习也有自己的小算盘。

At present, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has reached a stalemate. NATO is deeply trapped in it, so it is urgent to get external forces in to ease its strategic pressure. For the location, the Eastern Mediterranean connects Europe, Africa and Asia, and is an important channel for NATO to transport strategic materials to Ukraine. In terms of the participating forces, the multinational comprehensive maritime force dispatched by NATO is equipped with advanced mine hunters and minesweepers, which can not only provide military support at sea, but also detect, identify and eliminate mines and explosive ordnance.

演练时间上，当前俄乌冲突进入拉锯消耗期，北约深陷其中难以自拔，急需有外部力量加入，缓解其战略压力；演练地点上，东地中海连接欧洲、非洲、亚洲，是北约向乌克兰运输战略物资的重要通道；参演力量上，北约派出的多国综合海上部队，装备先进的猎雷舰和扫雷舰，不仅可进行海上军事支援，还能探测、识别和排除水雷和爆炸性弹药。

In conclusion, NATO has two purposes. On the one hand, it attempts to draw Japan into the Russia-Ukraine conflict and relieve the strategic pressure brought by European aid to Ukraine with the help of Japanese funds, resources and military forces; on the other hand, the exercise of combat support forces of NATO in the Eastern Mediterranean can demonstrate its ability to protect important sea route while showing strategic deterrence against Russia.

综合来看，北约借此演练，一方面企图将日本深度拉入俄乌冲突，借助日本的资金、资源和军事力量，缓解欧洲援乌带来的战略压力；另一方面，北约在东地中海使用作战支援力量实施演练，意图展现其保护海上重要通道的能力，同时对俄罗斯进行战略威慑。