Japan, an island country that once dominated Asia, has become more and more active in the international arena in recent years, especially on China-related issues, frequently making peace with the United States, trying to create incidents in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, the East China Sea and other regions, and challenging China's sovereignty and interests. However, just when Japan was complacent, a sudden military exercise Xi put Japan in an unprecedented predicament.
China and Russia have announced that they will conduct joint military exercises in the hinterland of the Sea of Japan, demonstrating strong military strength and strategic cooperation, posing a huge threat and pressure to Japan. Faced with such a situation, how should Japan respond?Will we continue to be in the same league as the United States, or will we ask China for help?This is a game that affects the whole world, and it is also a crisis that will test Japan.
In December 2023, China and Russia conducted a four-day "Northern Joint-2023" Xi exercise in a sea area of the Sea of Japan, which was the first joint military exercise held by the two countries in the Sea of Japan since 2017, and it was also the largest, most subject, and highest-level Xi in the sea area. During the Xi, the Chinese and Russian troops participating in the exercise jointly completed a number of subjects such as naval and air escort, deterrence and dispersion, and anchorage defense, and tested the combat capabilities of the troops of both sides in the far sea and distant areas.
Qiu Wensheng, commander of the Xi exercise, said that the exercise Xi a practical measure to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, a re-embodiment of the high degree of strategic mutual trust and solid traditional friendship between the two countries and the two militaries, and a multi-dimensional test of the integrated joint combat capability of Chinese and Russian naval and air forces in the far sea and long area.
This exercise Xi undoubtedly a blow to Japan, and made Japan feel unprecedented military pressure and security crisis. The Sea of Japan is an important strategic passage between China and Russia, and the three straits in the Sea of Japan, namely the Miyako Strait, the Tsushima Strait, and the Tsugaru Strait, all have a bearing on the national strategic security of China and Russia.
The joint military exercises held by China and Russia in the Sea of Japan are intended to send a clear signal to Japan and other countries that China and Russia are important forces in promoting and maintaining regional peace and stability, and will not allow any country to cause trouble in the waters and will not pose a threat to the legitimate rights and interests of any country.
The United States and Japan held a summit meeting in April this year and issued a joint statement that mentioned China's Taiwan issue for the first time since 1969. The United States also passed the "China Taiwan Guarantee Act" in July this year, requiring the United States to support Taiwan's international participation and prevent Taiwan's isolation by the "one-China principle", and at the same time requiring the United States to coordinate with Japan and other allies to formulate a response plan for conflicts in the Taiwan Strait.
However, the expectations and demands of the United States have not been positively responded to by Japan. Although Japan is in line with the United States on the surface, it has shown hesitation and evasion in actual action. Japan** has not explicitly promised to stand with the United States in a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, and has even rejected the United States' request to use Japanese bases.
There are many reasons why Japan rejected the US demand. On the one hand, Japan is worried that if it gets involved in a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, it will face the risk of escalation, which may trigger counterattacks by China, Russia and other countries, causing serious damage to Japan's territory and people. Japan still remembers the two world wars of the last century, and the fear and aversion to war are deep-rooted.
Japan's pacifist constitution also restricts Japan's military operations and does not allow Japan to start or participate in aggressive wars. Public opinion in Japan also does not support Japan joining the United States in confronting China, believing that doing so would harm Japan's interests and security and violate Japan's tradition of peace.
On the other hand, Japan is also aware of the unreliability and selfishness of the United States. Japan knows that everything the United States is doing is for the sake of maintaining its hegemonic status and interests, not for Japan's security and well-being. The provocation and interference of the United States in the Taiwan Strait issue are aimed at containing China's rise, not to maintain peace in Taiwan.
The indifference and disregard of the United States on the issue of the Sea of Japan is aimed at making Japan take more risks and burdens, not to support Japan's sovereignty and territory. The US military operations in other regions are also aimed at achieving its own strategic goals, not at upholding international law and order.
Japan's dilemma has forced Japan to seek help from a third party, and this third party is China. Although Japan has made a series of accusations and boycotted China in public, in private, Japan has made overtures and asked for help from China, hoping that China will ease the military pressure on China and Russia and give Japan some breathing space.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga visited China in November this year and held a meeting with Chinese leaders, which was the first meeting between the leaders of the two countries in seven years and the first visit to China by Suga since taking office. During the meeting, the leaders of the two countries had frank and friendly exchanges on Sino-Japanese relations and regional issues, and reached a series of consensus and cooperation intentions.
Japan's move is undoubtedly a betrayal and betrayal of the United States, which has made the United States feel angry and disappointed. The United States believes that Japan is yielding to China, abandoning its own principles and interests, and undermining the foundation and trust of the US-Japan alliance. The United States will not sit idly by and watch Japan get closer to China, but will take tougher and drastic measures to put pressure and threats on Japan, demanding that Japan return to the US camp and deal with China together with the United States.
Japan, an island country that once dominated Asia, has now become a pawn in the game between China, Russia, and the United States, and is held back and troubled by military pressure and political demands on both sides, and is unable to develop and progress independently and freely. Japan's situation is Japan's own choice and result, and it is also Japan's own lesson and warning. Japan should be soberly aware that following in the footsteps of the United States is a road to destruction, an act that runs counter to its pacifist constitution and the will of the people, and an irresponsibility to its own country and people. Japan