By Zhang Yan
张 岩
Recently, Japan has jointly held a number of military exercises with the US and France, continuously strengthened security cooperation with Germany and France, and even intended to join the Five Eyes Alliance. Some analysts believe that Japan frequently cozies up to the US and other countries outside the region in the military in order to achieve its so-called important goal of becoming an influential military power.
近期以来，日本联合美、法等国连续举行多场军事演习，不断加强与德、法等国的安保合作，并有意加入“五眼联盟”。有分析认为，日本在军事上频频拉拢美国及其他域外国家，意在实现其所谓有影响力军事大国的重要目标。
According to Japan's Ministry of Defense, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will conduct a joint military drill with the French Army and the US Marine Corps from May 11 to 17. The drill, code-named ARC21, is the first joint military drill conducted by Japan, the US, and France in Japan, aiming to improve the joint combat capability during the defense of outlying islands.
据日本防卫省透露，5月11日至17日，日本陆上自卫队将与法国陆军、美国海军陆战队开展联合军事演习。演习代号为“ARC21”，旨在提高离岛防卫时的联合作战能力。此次演习是日、美、法3国首次在日本境内开展的联合军事演习。
There are two phases included in this the drill. The first phase is from May 11 to 13, during which the three countries will formulate an operation plan in Camp Ainoura (Nagasaki prefecture); the second phase is from May 14 to 15, during which they will conduct the drill at the Kirishima training ground (Miyazaki Prefecture and Kagoshima Prefecture).
本次演习分为两个阶段。第一阶段为11日至13日，3国将在日本相浦驻地（长崎县）合作拟定作战计划；第二阶段为14日至15日，3国将在雾岛演习场（宫崎、鹿儿岛两县）展开演习，着重演练空降作战、协同作战、城市巷战等课目。
The second phase will focus on subjects such as airborne operations, coordinated operations, and urban street warfare. The helicopters of JGSDF will conduct take-off and landing training on the warships of Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and French Navy. In addition, an all-weather drill will be held on May 15.
演习中，日本陆上自卫队直升机将在海上自卫队和法国海军舰艇上进行起降训练。此外，15日为全天候演练。16日，日法两国将在雾岛演习场举行步枪射击训练。
Japan and France will hold rifle shooting training at the Kirishima training ground on May 16. May 17 is the standby day for the drill. It is reported that four V-22 Osprey transport aircraft of the US Marine Corps will participate in the drill.
17日为演习备用日。据悉，美国海军陆战队4架“鱼鹰”运输机将参演。
Some media reported that about 220 people will participate in the drill. The participating French troops are mainly from the Sixth Light Armored Brigade and will arrive at Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture aboard France's Jeanne d'Arc training fleet. The US participating troops are mainly from the 3rd Division of the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa. France and the US each send about 60 people to participate in the drill. Japan dispatched about 100 people from the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade responsible for defending the Southwestern Islands and the Western Air Force to the drill.
据媒体报道，此次日、美、法3国联演参加人员共约220人。法国参演部队主要来自第六轻型装甲师，随“圣女贞德”练习舰队抵达长崎县佐世保市。美国参演部队主要来自驻冲绳的美海军陆战队第3师。法美两国分别派出约60人参演。日本出动负责西南诸岛防卫的“水陆机动团”、西部航空方面队等约100人参演。
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stressed that the Japan-US alliance is Japan's basic axis of diplomacy and security. He will inherit the "Indo-Pacific strategy" proposed by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2016 and create a "Japan-US+" alliance under the "free and open Indo-Pacific" framework.
日本首相菅义伟强调，日美同盟是日本“外交和安保的基轴”，他将继承日本前首相安倍2016年提出的“印太战略”，在“力争实现自由开放的印度洋-太平洋”框架下，打造“日美+”同盟关系。
On the one hand, Japan hopes to draw into European power, try to expand the influence of the "Indo-Pacific strategy", further dilute the power of the major powers in the Asia-Pacific region, build Japan into a so-called "buffer" and "safety valve" for maintaining stability in the Asia-Pacific region and attract more small and medium-sized countries. Recently, Japan has frequently interacted with European countries. Japan signed an agreement on sharing defense-related information with Germany in March and hosted the "2+2" ministerial-level consultations in April. In addition, the JMSDF and the French Navy have carried out four joint training this year.
一方面，日本希望引入欧洲力量，试图扩大“印太战略”辐射力和影响力，进一步“稀释”亚太地区大国力量，将日本打造为维护亚太地区稳定的所谓“缓冲器”和“安全阀”，吸引更多中小国家投入其麾下。近期，日本同欧洲国家频繁互动。先是3月与德国签订《军事情报保护协定》，4月又与德国召开“2+2”部长级磋商。此外，日本海上自卫队与法国海军今年已开展4次联合训练。
On the other hand, the real purpose of Japan's frequent military exercises on the grounds of regional security threats is to enlist allies, conduct actual combat training, and improve military strength. Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi publicly stated that France is an ally of the US and Japan. France's participation in the joint drill can promote the partnership between the US, Japan, and France while enhancing defense capabilities.
另一方面，日本以地区安全威胁为由频繁军演的真实目的,是网罗盟友、开展实战练兵、提升军事实力。日本防卫大臣岸信夫公开表示，法国是美日的盟友，此次参与联合军演，可以促进美日法伙伴关系，同时提升防御能力。
France's participation this time has attracted attention from the outside world. As the Asia-Pacific region has increasingly become the focus and strategic frontier of competition among major powers, France is eager to get more involved in Asia-Pacific affairs. According to public information from Japan, the French Navy's Tonnerre amphibious assault fleet has launched military operations in the waters surrounding Japan and will participate in this military drill in May. In early April, the French Navy also led the military exercises in the Bay of Bengal, participated by Japan, the US, Australia, India, and France. Before the military exercise in the Bay of Bengal, the French military said that it would demonstrate France's capability in important strategic areas and strengthen military cooperation with partner countries in the Asia-Pacific region in the future. This shows that France is trying to gradually shift its military power to the Asia-Pacific region and demonstrate its frontier presence.
此次法国参演引起外界关注。随着亚太地区越来越成为大国竞争博弈的焦点和战略前沿，法国对于更多介入亚太事务跃跃欲试。从日本公开资料看，法国海军“雷电”号两栖攻击舰编队已在日本周边海域展开军事行动，5月将参加此次军演。4月初，法国海军还主导了日、美、澳、印、法5国在孟加拉湾的军演活动。法国军方在孟加拉湾军演前曾表示，未来将在重要战略区域展示法国的活动能力，强化与亚太地区伙伴国家的军事合作。这表明法国正试图将军事力量逐步转向亚太地区，彰显其前沿存在。
In recent years, Japan has continuously tried to win over neighboring countries and foreign forces and has made frequent moves in sensitive areas in an attempt to break through the restrictions of the peace constitution while accelerating the pace of militarization. Japan's move is not conducive to regional peace and stability and deserves great attention.
近年来，日本在加快军事化步伐的同时，不断拉拢周边国家和域外势力，在敏感区域动作频繁，试图突破和平宪法限制。日本此举无益于地区和平稳定，值得高度警惕。
