European countries are sending more air and sea forces to Asia for defense exercises with Japan, bringing them closer to what remains a distant security challenge: China.
A destroyer from Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force held an exercise with a Turkish navy corvette on Sunday. Earlier this month, a Dutch frigate participated in the Netherlands’ first joint exercise with an MSDF destroyer before heading to the upcoming U.S.-led international Rim of the Pacific exercise off Hawaii.
Japan’s MSDF and Air Self-Defense Force had participated in bilateral joint exercises with at least 14 countries so far this year as of Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Defense — double the tally at the same point in 2023. Nearly 30 drills have been conducted in the vicinity of Japan.
An Italian aircraft carrier is set to arrive in Japan in late August, and Germany plans to send a frigate. Germany, France and Spain will also jointly dispatch aircraft to the region for exercises.
Japan’s security cooperation had long focused on the U.S., its sole treaty ally. The U.S. was its main partner for joint exercises until a few years ago. More recently, “quasi-allies” Australia and the U.K. have played a greater role.
In 2021, a British carrier strike group, a French amphibious assault ship and a German frigate were deployed near Japan in quick succession.
The leaders’ statement that came out of the Group of Seven summit hosted by the U.K. that year was the first to mention “the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
Western nations increasingly see risks in Asia to the safety of international sea lanes and supplies of such critical goods as advanced semiconductor devices. The Dutch government has responded to criticism that the deployment of its frigate to the Indo-Pacific region heightens geopolitical tensions, saying the move is a sign of its responsible commitment to the right to freedom of navigation.
Japan’s deepening involvement with NATO is a factor in its increasing engagement with Europe. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has participated in annual NATO summits since 2022 and is expected to attend the next one in Washington this July.
Japan has committed to spending 2% of its gross domestic product on defense, the same as the target for NATO members. Asian and European security are interlinked, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at an April meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa.
Western leaders have also expressed concerns about military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, which has reportedly been supplying Moscow with ammunition. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a strategic partnership agreement Wednesday that provides for mutual military assistance.
Since February, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., Canada and the Netherlands have been involved in monitoring sanctions-defying ship-to-ship transfers by North Korea.
Meanwhile, China has been ramping up military activity around Japan. A Chinese WL-10 reconnaissance and attack drone was spotted flying over the East China Sea northwest of Okinawa prefecture for the first time in May. Japanese authorities report that China Coast Guard ships now regularly sail near the Senkaku Islands, which are administered by Japan and are claimed by China as the Diaoyu.
A Dutch frigate that recently passed through the Taiwan Strait was approached by fighter jets and a helicopter, the Dutch defense ministry said. The Chinese side protested the incident.
Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of staff of Japan’s Joint Staff, told reporters on June 13 that Japan will strengthen cooperation with partners “to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
