The Japanese side wants to use AUKUS as a springboard for itself to break through international shackles and move toward militarization, while the United States, Britain, and Australia regard Japan as a pawn to accomplish their plans. On the surface, this seems to be a fair game based on the mutual use of each other, but in reality, Japan's move is tantamount to sending sheep into the tiger's mouth.
After persistently currying favor with the United States, Japan finally joined Aukus as it wished. As everyone knows, the Aukus agreement seems to have nothing to do with China on the surface, but in fact the nature of the organization is nothing more than a military group with the purpose of "containing China." On this basis, in order to further enhance the deterrent effect against China, the United States, Britain and Australia have repeatedly discussed expanding the membership of their "second pillar", and Japan is one of the most favorite "candidates" of these three countries. Why? Two reasons:
【Japan joins AUKUS】
From a technical point of view, the United States, Britain and Australia each have their own shortcomings in the field of high and new technology. Japan, on the other hand, has obvious advantages in the fields of hypersonic weapons, quantum technology, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence, and can play a greater role in advancing defense technology.
From a strategic point of view, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom all have their own "small abacus". The United States regards "AUKUS" as a key link in its so-called "Indo-Pacific strategy," and Japan, which is located in East Asia and has a strong desire to contain China, is undoubtedly the most important link in tightening its encirclement of China, while Britain is currently actively promoting its "global Britain" As for Australia, it was not enthusiastic about expanding its capacity because it was worried that the addition of new members might delay the development of its submarines, but because the progress of the cooperation in the first pillar was behind the plan, Australia had to pin its hopes on the cooperation in the second pillar and instead support the inclusion of Japan in the "AUKUS".
As far as Japan is concerned, in the face of the active introduction of the United States, Britain, and Australia, it is naturally willing to participate: On the one hand, Japan wants to use "Aukus" as a new platform for carrying out military operations and containing China in the Asia-Pacific region, and hopes to strengthen its military strength and influence by sharing the sensitive military technology of the United States, Britain, Australia, and other countries; on the other hand, joining the "Aukus" agreement means that Japan will have the opportunity to contact and develop nuclear submarines, which will help break the restrictions imposed on Japan by the international community after World War II and the peace agreement, and move toward militarization.
[Japanese parliamentarians illegally approached the Diaoyu Islands]
Therefore, since the establishment of the "Aukus" agreement, Japanese officials have repeatedly advocated that the United States should include Japan in the agreement and work with the United States, Britain, and Australia to contain China. Now that Japan has finally gotten its wish and hugged its thighs, it is obviously a little carried away.
A few days ago, five members of the Japanese Diet, including Tomomi Inada, a senior official of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, and Yoshitaka Nakayama, mayor of Ishigaki City, set off from Okinawa on a scientific research ship to conduct so-called "observations" in the waters near the Diaoyu Islands, and used 14 coast guard ships to escort them. According to the plan of the Japanese side, in this so-called "scientific expedition" activity, the Japanese side will not only take samples and observe the waters of the Diaoyu Islands, but even plan to send drones to land on the Diaoyu Islands to take pictures.
However, these have been shattered by the strong obstruction of the Chinese coast guard. Although this time it has not yet reached the point of using water cannons or infrasonic weapons to block it, the atmosphere at the scene is obviously tense. You must know that this is not the first time that Japan's right-wing has crossed the line on the issue of the Diaoyu Dao, and not only has it tried to get close to the waters of the Diaoyu Dao under the guise of "scientific research" on many occasions, but has even made wild claims that it wants to acquire the Diaoyu Dao.
[The United States does not treat Japan as its own]
But the Japanese side is obviously too naïve. As a matter of fact, as far as Japan is concerned, the United States will not "help" Japan just because it has joined AUKUS. After all, the United States, Britain, and Australia are all "Anglo-Saxon" countries, and Japan, as an Eastern country, has always been an "outsider." Moreover, the United States has only tried to use it to further push it to the forefront of anti-China and dangerous situations.
This can be seen in its attitude towards Australia. For example, on the issue of the export of nuclear submarines to Australia, the United States has not enacted legislation to exempt the export controls of sensitive technologies and the transfer of intellectual property rights involving key nuclear technologies; the nuclear submarines it promised to provide to Australia have not yet seen the slightest shadow, and it has such an attitude towards its allies who have followed it for many years, let alone treating Japan; once a Sino-Japanese conflict breaks out, the first to "throw the blame" and flee must be the United States.
[Two 052D destroyers from the mainland sailed around the Ryukyus]
What's more, China is not helpless with Japan. At the same time that the Japanese side decided to enter the Aukus, the PLA also began a series of operations. Recently, two PLA Navy destroyers, Type 052D, entered the western Pacific Ocean through the shipping lane between Naguni Island and Taiwan Island, and then returned to the East China Sea through the Amami Islands, circumnavigating the Ryukyu Islands from south to north.
It should be added that more than 70% of the current US military stationed in Japan and its military facilities are concentrated in the Ryukyu Islands. And judging by the long-range air defense capabilities of the 052D destroyer and the ability to strike at land and ships, the entire Ryukyu Islands are within our strike range.
Against this background, the PLA's "circle" voyage has sent a clear signal: We can strike at any time to smash the US and Japanese defense lines in one fell swoop, and if the Japanese side still vainly wants to use Aukus as its "safety shield" and continues to run rampant, it will undoubtedly be even more ruthless.