By Dong Xiaochao

Foreign media reported that in late June, the EU held talks with Japan and the ROK, two Asia-Pacific countries far away from the European continent, about the establishment of a new partnership in the field of security and defense. The union plans to reach an agreement with Japan on boosting their joint R&D of weapons and equipment, and will also talk with both countries about cooperation in maritime security, cyberspace and outer space.

In the current international situation, the EU decided to deepen security and defense cooperation with Japan and the ROK for several reasons.

The EU's judgment on security risks has changed. Given the local conflict in Europe and the complex security situation in the Asia Pacific, the EU believes that Europe, together with Asia, is facing interconnected security risks. According to an official from the European Commission, the security environment in Europe and Asia will undergo significant changes, which is why Europe hopes to forge partnerships with Japan and the ROK for closer cooperation.

In recent years, the EU has extended its military antenna to the Asia Pacific at a faster pace and enhanced defense exchange and cooperation with countries like Japan and the ROK. In June 2023, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said in an interview that the EU will upgrade the relationship with Japan with security at the core. In July of the same year, Japanese and EU leaders held a meeting and agreed to establish a Strategic Dialogue at foreign ministerial level on security.

The EU's demand for weapons and equipment keeps growing. Since the local conflict broke out in Europe in 2022, EU members have kept purchasing weapons to fill up their arsenal. The EU deems that its members are unable to develop and manufacture all the weapons they need in the short term because of the limited military production capacity, so it is in urgent need to find new sources of ammunition. In this case, Japan and the ROK, which boast a strong military industry and close relations with the West, naturally become important options.

The EU hopes to share R&D cost with Japan and the ROK. The EU in March this year released its first European Defense Industrial Strategy, according to which the member states will advance their weapon R&D and manufacturing in an integrated manner, although the EU has gradually realized that such efforts will be of limited effects. The EU believes its situation is similar to that of Japan and the ROK in the defense domain – neither side is capable of developing military equipment and establishing a manufacturing system on its own, and both are to some extent reliant on the US military industry. Therefore, the union begins to seek extensive cooperation with Japan and the ROK in such domains as security support.

From Japan's perspective, deepening defense and security cooperation with Europe is a good opportunity to enhance the technical level of its defense industry. The cooperation with European companies will also help reduce its R&D cost and broaden the channels to sell its weapons and equipment.

It is reported that the EU is expected to reach a ministerial agreement with Japan within the year that will facilitate Europe's funding of joint management programs between Japanese and European companies. It is learnt that the EU has formed defense and security partnerships with non-EU members like Norway, and the agreement will mark the first time that a similar mechanism is formed with Asia-Pacific countries.

It must be pointed out that as the US' consistent pushing of its "Indo-Pacific strategy" is aggravating the Asia-Pacific security situation, the EU's quicker steps to strengthen security and defense cooperation with countries like Japan and the ROK is no good news for the region, and may further increase uncertainties to regional security.