Macron warns bid for NATO office in Japan to deepen China tensions

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Jun 2023 13:22

French President Emmanuel Macron highlights the consequences of opening a liaison office for NATO in Japan's Tokyo, given that the Strategic Concept labeled China as a "strategic threat" last year.

France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at the abbey of Le Mont-Saint-Michel, north-western France, Monday, June 5, 2023. (AP)

A new report revealed that France has been uncertain about approving a new bid for NATO to open an office in Japan's Tokyo come 2024.

NATO has been expanding its presence in the Indo-Pacific and across the Eastern flank, all the while labeling China, in their new Strategic Concept paper, a "strategic challenge" and Russia as a threat.

While Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi reportedly noted that talks were ongoing regarding the bid for a NATO liaison office in Tokyo, which would mark the first of its kind in Asia, France maintained its belief that NATO must restrict its reach to the geographic location outlined in the bloc's charter: North Atlantic.

According to an insider cited in the report, French President Emmanuel Macron was wary about supporting any strategy "that contributes to NATO-China tension."

In addition, the alliance's proposed liaison office in Japan might potentially undermine European "credibility" with the People's Republic of China (PRC) amid efforts, by the collective West, to stoke tensions between Moscow and Beijing.

It was also reported that a week ago, Macron said: "If . . . we push NATO to enlarge the spectrum and the geography, we will make a big mistake."

Germany plans to deploy two warships in Indo-Pacific in 2024

In contrast, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Sunday, June 4, that in 2024, Germany will be sending two warships to the Indo-Pacific. The reason is the necessity to safeguard the so-called "rules-based international order," he said.

"The German Federal Government sent a frigate to the Indo-Pacific in 2021, and will again, in 2024, deploy maritime assets — this time a frigate and a supply ship — to the region," Pistorius said in Singapore while emphasizing that the deployment of the ships is not intended to target any nation and is solely meant to protect sea lines of communication.

He noted that the 2021 deployment was in response to tensions on the Korean peninsula, adding that "these deployments — I want to make this very clear — are not directed against any nation," explaining further that "Berlin is committed to safeguarding peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and plans to strengthen its influence and alliances in the region in the years to follow."