France Balks at NATO's Plan to Open Liaison Office in Japan

An official stated that France is not supportive of the idea of NATO establishing a liaison office in Japan. This comes after French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his opposition to the proposal, calling it a "big mistake."

It has been proposed, with the most recent hint coming from Nato's Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, that the organization might establish an office in Tokyo, which would be its first in Asia. This move would be a response to the increasing threat posed by China and Russia, according to The Guardian.

Joint Patrols of China and Russia

On Tuesday, the military collaboration between Beijing and Moscow in the Asia-Pacific region was showcased through the joint patrols conducted by the Russian and Chinese militaries over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. This action led to South Korea and Japan scrambling fighter jets as a response.

The patrols, which started in 2019, were established due to the deepening relationship between China and Russia, which was partly fueled by their shared perception of a threat from the US and other military alliances. This relationship was formed before the current war in Ukraine.

France is hesitant?

While some have called for greater cooperation between NATO and allies in north-east Asia, France seems hesitant to support anything that may increase tensions between the alliance and China.

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Jacques Paquier) Congrès des maires 19 novembre 2019

A French official, who declined to be identified, stated that NATO's abbreviation represents the North Atlantic, and its statutes' Articles V and VI restrict its jurisdiction to the North Atlantic. The official also stated that no NATO liaison office exists in any country in the area, and if NATO requires situational awareness in the region, it may utilize embassies that serve as points of contact. The official's comments were in response to an article that was initially published in the Financial Times.

Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan's government's spokesperson, did not comment on Macron's reported statements.

Matsuno stated that Nato is currently considering various factors. The establishment of an office in Japan would need the agreement of all members of the North Atlantic Council. France could veto the proposal, and this is according to Kyodo news agency.

The Chinese government is unhappy about the suggestion of setting up a liaison office in Japan, which was brought to light last month. Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, expressed their displeasure by stating that Asia is not part of the North Atlantic region.

NATO was initially created to provide security across the Atlantic region against the Communist bloc of the Soviet era. Now, it is trying to determine its purpose in the midst of China's growing power and is also aiding Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.

Stoltenberg stated that the occurrences in Asia affect Europe, and vice versa, hence it is crucial for NATO allies to improve their relationship with their Indo-Pacific counterparts. He mentioned that there had been a demand for a NATO liaison office, and they are currently exploring the option of setting up the office without disclosing the location.

According to the Financial Times, Macron was not in favor of the idea. He cautioned against expanding Nato's territorial reach at a recent conference, calling it a significant error. Furthermore, French officials were dissatisfied that the topic was leaked to the media before all Nato members were consulted.