Japan’s warming Western relations
Add BT as a preferred source
ONE of the standout features of international relations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been the warming of Western relations with Japan.
This was showcased again at the recent Group of Seven (G7) leadership summit, which notched up significant achievements, including in the geopolitical arena. Moreover, last year Fumio Kishida became the first Japanese prime minister to attend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization leadership meeting, and there is even speculation of Tokyo being invited into Western intelligence forums such as the “Five Eyes” alliance of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
These examples illustrate that much of the attention around warming ties has focused on the defence and intelligence arenas. In part, this reflects Japan’s ambition, since the Ukraine war began, to try to tie together the threats from Russia in Europe with its own concerns about the rise of China in the Asia-Pacific where it wants to ensure Western support vis-a-vis Beijing.
TRENDING NOW
How BYD disrupted Singapore’s car market – and why the strategy is turning on itself
Singtel shares up 4.2% after underlying Q1 net profit grows 21%
When every phone becomes a satellite phone, what happens to Asia’s telcos?
Too little, too late? Manila’s billion-dollar bid to ignite its sputtering EV industry
