The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) recently held the international fleet review in the waters of Sagami Bay, Kanagawa Prefecture, which is the first time that Japan held such event since 2002. Eighteen ships from 12 countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, India, and the ROK, as well as a total of six military aircraft from France and the US participated in the review, however, the naval ships of European countries were collectively absent.
Military expert Shao Yongling believes that Japan has two purposes for hosting this event. The first is to show off its force in an effort to coordinate with the US's Indo-Pacific strategy. The second is to highlight Japan's military relations with other countries, especially Western countries, and to demonstrate Japan's international influence. However, it is embarrassing that the European countries that Japan deliberately wants to make friends with were almost all absent.
Shao analyzed that on the one hand, the absence of European countries has to do with the lack of Japan's appeal. In recent years, some European countries have sent warships to the Indo-Pacific to participate in exercises or activities in a bid to work with the US for muscle-flexing. However, this fleet review is an event hosted by Japan, and European countries do not want to mobilize troops for Japan.
On the other hand, it also exposed the lackluster naval strength of European countries. The strength of several traditional naval powers in Europe has declined considerably. It is difficult for them to send warships to Japan from afar to participate in the fleet review.
According to reports, among the 18 ships that participated in the fleet review, Australia sent four ships, and the ROK’s Navy only sent one logistics support ship. In this regard, Shao said that Australia actively support this event because it has the so-called common demands with Japan in the security field. However, the ROK has not been in harmony with Japan recently, and its participation is likely to be the result of the US's vigorous promotion.
Japan and Australia signed a new version of the Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation on October 22, 2022, to further strengthen cooperation in security and economics. Australia must actively join the fleet review hosted by its Quasi-ally Japan.
There may be two reasons for the ROK to participate. First, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, which pursues a pro-US foreign policy, believes that the relationship between the ROK and Japan should not be too tense. The Yoon Suk-yeol administration hopes to deepen the bilateral defense cooperation and ease the tense political relationship by participating in the fleet review.
Another reason is the promotion by the US. If Japan and the ROK confront each other for a long time, it will affect the advancement of the US Indo-Pacific strategy. One of the key points of the Indo-Pacific Strategy is cooperation among allies and partners, so the US must have done a lot of work behind the scenes.
