By Li Hai

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.

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.

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.

Through the Nippon Skies joint exercise, Japan and the three European countries have some shared interests while also having their separate ax to grind.

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.

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.

The three European NATO members have both common and separate considerations.

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.

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.

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.

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.