This content was originally published by Radio Free Asia, and it is now being reprinted with permission.
China claims that joining Japan in the AUKUS security agreement had “violate” the region’s and the world’s peace and stability.
China’s defense ministry spokesman said on Thursday that the country was open to regular military cooperation but that” we strongly oppose related countries cobbling together unique groupings.”
North Korea, meanwhile, said the United States has made “reckless goes” to include Japan to “frantically increase its empire realm without limitations”.
Australia, the United Kingdom and the U. S.  , formed the AUKUS defense and security agreement in 2021 in an effort to stand up to China’s growing power in the region.  ,
China has frequently criticized AUKUS as stoking “bloc- to- union fight”.
The United States has even sought to move up partnerships with allies in Asia, including Japan and the Philippines, in the face of China’s military develop- off and its growing regional confidence.
Japan has yet to make an explicit announcement about its involvement in AUKUS, but a joint statement released this month after U.S. President Joe Biden met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that the AUKUS companions “are considering cooperating with Japan” in some tasks.
Chinese defence ministry director Wu Qian told a , hit briefing , in Beijing that the Asia- Pacific was” hardly a grappling ground for political competition”.
” Japan needs to attract lessons from history, both speak and act wisely on military and security problems”, Wu said, warning some “other places” to prevent fueling fight, also.
North Korea also criticized the idea, claiming that” the risk of Japan’s involvement in AUKUS is making the entire global community tense.”
According to researcher Kang Jin Song,” It is the ominous purpose of the US to make Japan fascinated by nationalism, a crewmember of a confrontation ship called AUKUS and put it at the outpost line of the anti-China pressure and force the atomic minefield in the Asia-Pacific region close to China,” the editorial was published by North Korea’s state-run Asian Central News Agency on Thursday.
Japan’s involvement
We are considering cooperating with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects, according to AUKUS defense ministers in , a joint statement, recognizing Japan’s advantages and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries.
The first main program, or Pillar I, of the trilateral partnership, is” the sharing of nuclear powered submarines between the U. S., U. K, and Australia”, said Stephen Nagy, a professor of politics and international studies at the International Christian University in Tokyo.
” Japan will not join Pillar I but it could join Pillar II, which is the cooperation in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cyber, hypersonics and more”, said the political scientist.
Japan’s participation would improve its technology, coordination with AUKUS members, and security, Nagy added, but it would also “ensure that emerging technology domination will be by like-minded countries that respect the rule of law,” she added.
Tokyo is one of Washington’s most trusted partners in the Indo- Pacific. The United States’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier strike group is based in Yokosuka, and there are 54, 000 American soldiers stationed in Japan.  ,
Japan is shifting away from its post-war pacifist defense strategy and increasing military spending to address challenges.
