Ryusho Kadota
@KadotaRyusho
French President Macron, manipulated by China, has decided against setting up a NATO liaison office in Tokyo.
Then PM Kishida must go to Macron and get a good response from him for the NATO Tokyo Liaison Office. Since the secretariat has already built up a good foundation, it is the role of politicians to make the final push," said Yoichi Takahashi. Such "high hopes" are impossible...
Yoichi Takahashi
@YoichiTakahashi
Yoichi Takahashi's Kasumigaseki Watch
Prime Minister Kishida "should have given it a shot."
French President Opposes NATO Tokyo Office... Why he should "bite the bullet."
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida must have felt good about being praised by U.S. President Joe Biden at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Biden was also overstating the case that Japan's defense budget was increased because I told him to, and for that, he apologized.
However, French President Emmanuel Macron opposed establishing a NATO liaison office in Tokyo, saying, "The Indo-Pacific is not the North Atlantic.
As a result, the proposal to establish a Tokyo Liaison Office at the NATO summit was not carried out because NATO decisions were unanimous in principle, and France opposed the proposal.
NATO is expressing its wariness toward China.
If Kishida wanted to show the world he is a diplomat, he should have given it a shot.
It is because the NATO Secretariat regards China as a "systemic challenge.
In recent years, China has been involved in cyber attacks on the Internet, disinformation spread, and expanding its security influence in space.
Such cyberattacks and other activities are not limited by geography and could harm NATO's actions.
In any case, NATO is expressing caution toward China.
NATO sees Japan as a very close and important partner and is looking to expand its ties with South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand in addition to Japan.
It was the vision of the U.S. and Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to use the Tokyo office as a stepping stone.
It is also a welcome move by Japan, as NATO seeks to contribute to the security of a free and open Indo-Pacific region as it grows increasingly wary of China's expanding influence.
In light of cyber attacks and other such threats, security should now be viewed not only as a regional issue but also as a global one.
Prime Minister Kishida should have made this clear at his public press conference.
Only politicians can make the final push.
France's real intention is to show consideration for China.
In fact, China is vehemently opposed to NATO's Tokyo office.
It is said that China pocketed France because it purchased Airbus.
Behind the scenes, Prime Minister Kishida could talk to President Macron about Japan buying enough Airbus and wine.
It is no wonder the summit meeting with Ukrainian President Wlodimir Zelensky was washed out.
After all, Ukraine would not get any weapons from a meeting with Japan.
Then, Prime Minister Kishida should go to Macron and get a good answer about the NATO Tokyo Liaison Office instead of holding a Japan-South Korea summit meeting.
Since the bureaucrats have reached the top, only a politician can make the final push.
