By Sun Wenzhu

孙文竹

The strategic partnership agreement (SPA) between Japan and the EU took effect on January 1 this year. The agreement stipulates that the two sides, as "like-minded global partners," will jointly maintain regional peace and security.

今年1月1日，日本同欧盟签署的“战略伙伴关系协定”正式生效。这一协定规定，双方作为“志同道合的全球伙伴”，将共同维护地区和平与安全。

With the tacit approval and encouragement of the US, Japan has been intensifying military security cooperation with major European countries. This includes fostering bilateral and multilateral institutional exchanges with many European countries, establishing "2+2" dialogue mechanisms with the UK, France, Germany, and other nations to regularly exchange views on defense and regional security issues, and issuing a new four-year plan for security cooperation with NATO and setting up a confidential intelligence-sharing channel to further institutionalize their security cooperation.

在美国的默许和推动下，日本与欧洲主要国家之间的军事安全合作不断升温，如同欧洲多国持续推动双边、多边机制化交流；与英国、法国、德国等国建立“2+2”会谈机制，定期就防务和地区安全问题交换意见；日本还与北约发布新版“安全合作四年计划”，设立机密情报共享专线，将双方安全合作进一步机制化。

In addition, the scale of joint exercises and training between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and the armed forces of major European countries has been steadily expanding, with the scope of training activities continuously broadening. In July 2024, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) conducted joint exercises with the air forces of France, Germany, Spain and other countries. In August, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) deployed the helicopter carrier Izumo and new submarines to participate in joint training with the navies of Italy, Germany, France and other countries. In September, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) held its first-ever joint exercise with French Army units on Japanese soil.

此外，日本自卫队与欧洲主要国家各军种间的联合演训规模不断扩大，演训内容持续拓展。2024年7月，日本航空自卫队同法国、德国、西班牙等国空军举行联合演习；8月，日本海上自卫队派出“出云”号直升机护卫舰、新型潜艇等装备，同意大利、德国、法国等国海军举行联合训练；9月，日本陆上自卫队与法国陆军部队在日本境内首次举行联合演习。

Amid profound changes in the international landscape, Japan's ongoing efforts to advance military security cooperation with European nations reflect its intent to expand its global influence and pursue a position as a prominent political and military power.

在国际局势深刻演变的背景下，日本持续推进同欧洲国家的军事安全合作，反映出其寻求拓展全球影响、谋求政治军事大国地位的意图。

Firstly, Japan aims to align itself with major European powers in the field of military security, seeking to break through post-war constraints and create justifications and policy space for its military expansion. During the Fumio Kishida administration, Japan announced that it would reach the NATO benchmark and increase its defense budget to 2% of GDP within five years starting from 2023, with a focus on building counterattack capabilities centered on offensive weapons. After Shigeru Ishiba took office, Japan accelerated its collaboration with the UK and Italy on the joint development of next-generation fighter jets, while actively seeking to participate in Europe's next-generation unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) projects. It is foreseeable that under the framework of its new strategic and defense partnership, Japan will continue to strengthen military security cooperation with Europe, hoping to gradually gain international acceptance of its transition from a "peaceful nation" to a "war-capable nation," thereby paving the way for Japan to challenge the postwar international order.

首先，日本有意在军事安全领域对标欧洲大国，突破战后体制，为扩武寻求借口与政策空间。岸田文雄政府期间，日本宣布“对标北约”，从2023年开始在5年内将防卫预算提升至占国内生产总值的2%，重点打造以进攻性武器为核心的“反击能力”。石破茂政府上台后，日本与英国、意大利加快推进联合研发新一代战斗机计划，同时极力争取参与欧洲下一代无人机项目。可以想见，在新的战略和防卫伙伴关系框架下，日本将持续强化与欧洲的军事安全合作，使国际社会逐步接受其由“和平国家”到“能战国家”的安全角色转变，从而顺理成章地挑战战后国际秩序。

Secondly, Japan aims to strengthen its network of alliances to counter the uncertainties brought about by US strategic adjustments. Japan and several European countries are allies of the US. They share concerns over the possibility of a return to isolationism under the Trump presidency. The Japanese believe that, amid US strategic adjustments, actively serving as a bridge for European engagement in the Asia-Pacific affairs, deepening multilateral security cooperation with European nations, and building a quasi-alliance framework help both mitigate the uncertainties arising from US strategic shifts and foster collective influence with Europe on shaping US strategic direction.

其次，日本有意巩固同盟关系网，对冲美国战略调整带来的不确定性。日本与一些欧洲国家同为美国盟友，都对特朗普重返白宫后美可能回归“孤立主义”深感焦虑与不安。日方认为，在美国进行战略调整之际，积极充当欧洲干预亚太事务的跳板，与欧洲国家深化多边安全合作打造“准同盟”体系，既有助于对冲美国战略调整带来的不确定性，也有助于与欧洲国家形成合力，共同影响美国的战略走向。

In recent years, some Japanese politicians have repeatedly hyped up the so-called "Chinese military threat," seeking to draw European powers into the Asia-Pacific on the basis of the US-Japan alliance, so as to enhance Japan's leverage in regional competition and secure greater benefits. After signing the Japan-EU Security and Defence Partnership, Iwaya Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, said that the security environment surrounding Japan is very severe and he hopes to enhance deterrence by building a cooperation network with "like-minded countries and allies."

近年来，日本一些政客反复炒作所谓“中国军事威胁”，力图在美日同盟基础上，再将欧洲国家势力引入亚太，为日本在地区竞争中谋求利益增加筹码。日本外相岩屋毅在签署日欧“安全保障及防卫伙伴关系”协议后称，日本当前安全环境恶劣，希望通过与“志同道合的国家和盟友”构建合作网络来“增强威慑力量”。

Due to historical reasons, Japan's military security developments have always drawn the close attention of the international community and its Asian neighbors. Japan's ongoing efforts to pull in European military forces into the Asia-Pacific will undoubtedly disrupt the region's existing strategic balance and security stability, increase the risks of bloc confrontations, potentially trigger arms races, and exacerbate tensions, thereby posing negative impacts on regional security. Japan should learn from history, stay committed to the path of peaceful development, respect the security concerns of its neighbors, and act cautiously in the area of military security.

由于历史原因，日本的军事安全动向一直备受国际社会和亚洲邻国关注。日本持续牵引欧洲军事力量介入亚太，无疑将干扰破坏地区现有的战略平衡与安全稳定，增大阵营对抗风险，甚至可能引发军备竞赛与紧张局势升级，为亚太安全带来负面影响。日方应切实汲取历史教训，坚持走和平发展道路，尊重邻国安全关切，在军事安全领域慎重行事。

(The author is from China Institute of International Studies.)

（作者单位：中国国际问题研究院）