May 7, 2022

The Ukraine crisis and the geopolitical tragedy it has triggered are not enough to kill the hunger of the US and some Western countries to reap political profits from the situation. Visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his British counterpart Boris Johnson agreed in principle on Thursday on a reciprocal access agreement between the Japanese Self-defense Forces and the British military. According to a statement from Johnson's office, the agreement is a "landmark defense partnership" and will boost "the UK's commitment to the Indo-Pacific." Meanwhile, Kishida made sensational remarks that "Ukraine may be tomorrow's East Asia," saying now is the time for the G7 leading nations to solidify their unity. 

All these showy remarks reveal a dangerous tendency: NATO, which created division in Europe and waged wars around the world, is trying to apply the tricks of "bloc politics" and "confrontation between camps" to the Asia-Pacific region. For a long time, the UK has propagated on several occasions "the globalization of NATO" and the "need to preempt threats in the Indo-Pacific" and to ensure the island of Taiwan "is able to defend itself." Within the Asia-Pacific, Japan is abnormally active in catering to such a scheme. It seems Tokyo wants to be the "traitorous guide" for NATO's expansion in the Asia-Pacific region. 

The US is undoubtedly behind this trend. In recent years, Washington has pushed its allies to coordinate with its strategy to look eastward. Some countries are willing to follow suit, although they all have their own calculations on this issue. London aims to recover its declining influence by "exploring the way" for Washington. Japan wants to take advantage of US connivance to break the "shackles" of the pacifist constitution and resurrect its militarism. The Ukraine crisis is a "good dish" for some politicians who have constantly escalated their voice and moves to create regional tensions. 

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