Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is visiting the UK, signed a defense agreement with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London on the 11th.
According to the agreement, Japan and the United Kingdom will allow each other to deploy troops in each other's countries.
In addition, the agreement also allows the militaries of the two countries to conduct larger-scale and more complex military exercises and deployments.
It is the first "mutual military access" agreement of its kind between Japan and a European country, and the first by the UK in more than 100 years.
Who the target audience and allegiance of this agreement is is self-evident.
"This agreement is of great importance to both countries and will strengthen the UK's commitment to security and stability in the Indian Ocean and Pacific region, and underscores the joint efforts of both countries to strengthen economic security and accelerate defense cooperation," British Prime Minister William Sim said. This sentence is obviously meant for the United States.
However, the British government was still afraid that people would not know the meaning of this agreement and its target audience, and further claimed that this agreement was "the most important defense agreement between Britain and Japan since 1902."
Kishida and Xin Weicheng met in the Tower of London, which was once the royal residence and prison.
(Reuters)
Those who understand history should know the background of the Anglo-Japanese agreement in 1902: Back then, in order to deal with the expansion of Tsarist Russia in the Far East, Britain and Japan signed a treaty and formed the so-called "British-Japanese Alliance" to contain Tsarist Russia and consolidate their respective hegemony Benefit.
Today's "Tsarist Russia", that is, the Russian Federation, is at the weakest and most passive moment in more than a hundred years because it is deeply involved in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Putin, who is struggling on the Ukrainian front, has no intention or strength to make troubles in the Far East.
Therefore, without all the hints from Xin Weicheng's government, everyone knows that this agreement has only one target: China.
The superficial seriousness of the signing of this agreement, which has the shadow of the new Anglo-Japanese alliance, contrasts with the absurdity of British politics at the moment.
The biggest news in Britain recently is how Prince Harry (Prince Harry) exploded the inside story of the palace in his new book "Spare" (temporary translation: spare tire), revealing all the mysteries on which the British monarchy depends, and nakedly revealing the secrets of the palace. Intrigue and vulgarity are all in front of people.
As for Xin Weicheng, who signed with Kishida, as we all know, the Prime Minister was only introduced by the Conservative Party as a last resort. Now it is doubtful whether he can manage his cabinet well. The whole party is also struggling for "survival". I hope the next general election will not Flat out.
In fact, there is no comparison between Britain and Japan in 1902 and Britain and Japan today.
Xin Weicheng and Kishida visited the exhibits of Japanese samurai armor at the Tower of London.
(Reuters)
In 1902, Britain was the number one power in the world, at least in name, and Japan was a rapidly rising regional power in East Asia.
Their competitors in the Far East included Tsarist Russia, which expanded to the Far East after its expansion in Europe was hindered, and the United States, which had already revealed its hegemony at that time.
China is poor and weak at the mercy of others.
The reason why Britain and Japan joined forces to contain Tsarist Russia was mainly to maintain their respective hegemony and territorial ambitions towards China: Britain suppressed Tsarist Russia out of consideration of the balance of power in the European continent, and maintained its European hegemony and interests in the Far East (mainly China); In order to curb the expansion of Tsarist Russia to the Far East, Japan attempted to colonize and occupy Korea and expand its colonial interests in China.
Britain and Japan had their own ghosts, and signed the "Anglo-Japanese Alliance Agreement" in London on January 30, 1902, forming a military alliance against Russia.
With the strength of Britain and Japan at that time, their alliance did achieve the goal of containing Tsarist Russia, and had a major impact on the future international structure of Northeast Asia.
On January 11, Japan and the United States held a "2+2" meeting of defense ministers and foreign ministers.
From left to right: Japanese Defense Minister Yasuichi Hamada, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
(Reuters)
But what roles do Britain and Japan play in the international political arena now?
One was abolished after World War II, not even a normal country, not even independent diplomatic and military power; one has long since degenerated from a global hegemony to a European regional country, just as former Prime Minister John Major said " We (Britain) are no longer a great power, nor will we ever be."
Just like this, the two countries still want to send troops to each other to contain China?
Today's China is not the Tsarist Russia in 1902, even if it is, with the strength of today's Britain and Japan, if they want to tie China up through a military alliance, I am afraid they will be powerless.
Today's Britain and Japan, to put it bluntly, one is the younger brother of the United States, and the other is the slave of the United States. The alliance between the two countries is not so much to contain China, but to act a show for the United States at the request of the United States to complete the United States. given task.
Compared with the "handing in homework" of the United Kingdom, Japan is trying to free ride on the US Indo-Pacific strategy. It is constantly being loosened by the United States, strengthening its military deployment against China, and moving towards a "normal country" step by step.
This is what requires China to be highly vigilant.
Why did Fumio Kishida visit the five countries of France, Italy, Britain, Canada and the United States?
Russia-Ukraine War｜A large number of "suspected tanks" lost to Ukraine and Europe and the United States to deploy a ground counterattack?
The Chinese Embassy in the UK resolutely opposes the British "Hong Kong Semi-annual Report".
