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“China is supporting Russia's efforts. China is building up its
armed forces, including its navy, at a rapid pace," NATO
Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters as he wrapped up his
visit to the Japanese navy port of Yokosuka. “We cannot be
naive, and we really have to work together, assess what is
happening.”
Rutte said NATO is worried about China's military exercises near
Taiwan and “we follow them very closely.”
Japan considers China as a threat in the region and has in
recent years accelerated military buildup, including preparing
to acquire strikeback capability with long-range cruise
missiles.
Japan, in addition to the United States, has expanded its
defense ties with other friendly nations in the Indo-Pacific and
Europe, as well as NATO, saying Russia's war on Ukraine
underscores that security risks in Europe and Asia are
inseparable.
The United States wants NATO members to be more involved in the
Indo-Pacific region, Rutte said. He welcomed U.S. Secretary of
Defense Pete Hegseth's recent trip to Japan to ensure
Washington's commitment to strengthen its alliance with Japan
and presence in the region. He stressed its importance, noting
that Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven that is not
in NATO.
NATO has also stepped up its ties with Japan, South Korea,
Australia and New Zealand, known as the IP4, in recent years,
with their officials attending NATO ministerial and summit
meetings.
Rutte, visiting Japan for the first time since becoming head of
the Belgium-based military alliance in October, was set to hold
talks with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani later Tuesday
and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday.
Ishiba has advocated a NATO-like security framework in Asia,
though he has not given details.
Countries with shared security concerns are strengthening ties
as competition escalates between the United States and China.
Beijing has criticized NATO’s growing ties with the Indo-Pacific
partners, worried that Washington may move to form a NATO-like
alliance in the region.
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Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.
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