Masahiro Tauchi, Advisor, DEVNET JAPAN – Former Ambassador of Japan to Norway
- Establishment of NATO Tokyo liaison office and French opposition
On 3 May this year, the Nikkei Asian Review reported that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) plans to open a liaison office in Tokyo by 2024 to enhance cooperation in the Asian region[1]. On 10 May, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg (former Prime Minister of Norway) confirmed that discussions were underway with the Japanese government regarding the opening of a liaison office in Tokyo. Secretary General Stoltenberg emphasized the need to enhance cooperation between NATO and countries in the Indo-Pacific region, with a focus on addressing challenges from Russia and China, stating that “Japan is a very close and important partner for NATO.” [2]
In response to the news of NATO’s liaison office in Tokyo, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticized the move the day after the Nikkei Asian Review report, stating that “regional countries need to be highly vigilant about NATO’s Eastward expansion in the Asia-Pacific, interference in regional issues, and attempts to disrupt regional peace and stability,” with the Russian Foreign Ministry also expressing similar concerns. [3][4]
While backlash from China and Russia was expected, according to the Financial Times, on 5 June, French President Macron expressed opposition to the opening of NATO’s Tokyo liaison office, stating that “NATO should continue to focus on the North Atlantic region and should not expand its scope beyond the North Atlantic,” and that NATO expanding beyond the geographical framework of the North Atlantic would be “a big mistake,” as reported by the same newspaper. [5]
To counter the authoritarianism of China and Russia, unity within the democratic camp is essential. While NATO and Japan were coordinating to establish a liaison office in Tokyo by 2024, NATO’s decision requires unanimity, and if France, as a member country, persists in its opposition, it will be difficult to realize the plan.
President Macron visited China in April, accompanied by many French business leaders, and it was reported that he made statements suggesting that “Europe should avoid following either the United States or China” regarding the situation in Taiwan.
The reason for President Macron’s opposition to the opening of NATO’s Tokyo office is explained by someone familiar with the internal discussions within NATO as follows: “France is not enthusiastic about increasing tensions between NATO and China.” In addition to the formal reason that NATO’s charter limits its geographical scope to the North Atlantic, a French government official mentioned that the opening of NATO’s Tokyo office could undermine Europe’s credibility due to its relationship with the request to China not to supply weapons to Russia in relation to the conflict in Ukraine. [6]
While President Macron did not mention NATO’s Tokyo office during the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May, the summit’s communiqué called for China’s mediating between Russia to stop the war and emphasized the expectation for active contributions by China, including not supplying weapons to Russia. This aligns with President Macron’s remarks if interpreted in this context.
2. Actions of the United States, Germany, France, and China
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken visited Beijing on 19 June and held discussions with President Xi Jinping. Regarding suspicions that China is considering providing weapons to Russia, which continues its invasion to Ukraine, Secretary Blinken stated, “We have received a commitment from China that it will not provide weapons to Russia now or in the future.” It has been reported that he expressed gratitude to China, stating that there is no evidence of actual weapon transfers. [7]
In contrast to the increasing tension between the United States and China in diplomatic relations, prominent figures from the American business community have been visiting China one after another, opposing the decoupling of the American and Chinese economies and emphasizing the importance of connections with the Chinese economy. [8] Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, reportedly met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on 16 June. President Xi expressed his hope for the continued friendship between the two countries’ peoples, stating that they are entrusting hope to the American people and expecting support from the American business community rather than the US government. [9]
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, on his first foreign trip as prime minister, visited Germany and France from 18 to 23 June. Seeking to strengthen relations by leveraging economic cooperation with Germany and France amid escalating tensions with the United States. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sought to encourage the entry of foreign companies into China and called for market improvements toward “fair competition,” while also exploring a balanced approach to diplomacy involving both hard and soft issues such as human rights. [10] However, Chancellor Scholz faced criticism from French media for not addressing the Taiwan issue and was forced to make a correction during his parliamentary speech on 22 June, [11] emphasizing his opposition to the use of force against Taiwan during the talk with Premier Li Qiang.
President Emmanuel Macron also expressed his desire to enhance cooperation through strategic dialogues, high-level economic and financial dialogues, and high-level people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China during his meeting with Premier Li Qiang. He also expressed his expectations for access to the Chinese market. The details of the discussions on the situation in Ukraine and the relationship between the two sides across the Taiwan Strait have not been disclosed by the French presidency. [12]
3. Strengthening the maintenance of an international order based on the rule of law
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been advocating that “security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific are inseparable.” The challenge for the democratic camp is how to deal with attempts to change the current international order, which is free and open, through the use of force. The democratic camp needs to strengthen cooperation and act based on common values and principles. While building economic relations with China, it is necessary to develop strategies to maintain international order and security. Japan and China can cooperate in areas such as the economy and people-to-people exchanges for mutual benefit, and while constructing appropriate economic relations with China that contribute to economic development and economic security, it is necessary to revitalize people-to-people exchanges and encourage China to play a responsible role commensurate with its international influence by adhering to international rules and standards.
Prime Minister Kishida is working on arrangements to attend the NATO Summit in Lithuania in July. With a focus on responding to the collaboration between Russia and China, Japan aims to strengthen cooperation with NATO. The establishment of the NATO Tokyo liaison office is an important step toward enhancing the unity of the democratic camp and deepening cooperation on security in the Indo-Pacific region. However, it is also necessary to consider the realities of international politics and the interests and concerns of each country. The democratic camp is expected to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the international community by pursuing balanced economic cooperation and security coordination. (End)
[1] 2023/5/3NIKKEI ASIA https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/NATO-to-open-Japan-office-deepening-Indo-Pacific-engagement
[2] 2023/5/11 NHK News Web https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20230511/k10014063711000.html
[3] REUTERS https://jp.reuters.com/article/nato-japan-china-idJPKBN2WV0ND
[4] NHK News Web as above
[5] 2023/6/6Finatial Times “France objects to Nato plan for office in Tokyo”
https://www.ft.com/content/204e595f-5e05-4c06-a05e-fffa61e09b27
[6] ibid.2023/6/6 Finatial Times “France objects to Nato plan for office in Tokyo”
[8] Hiroshi Endo Yahoo Japan https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/endohomare/20230620-00354546
[9] Sankei Tsushin https://www.sankei.com/article/20230616-VNIF32PLY5M5NOE5CSP6FJYQSU/
[10] Sankei Shimbun https://www.sankei.com/article/20230621-QSGJT6H4NJMI3K2ZKC6GGSNL3I/?dicbo=v2-t4r6CUt
[11] Tokyo Shimbun https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/258593
[12] Nikkei https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOGR2305I0T20C23A6000000/