The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), a military alliance made up of Western countries, is reportedly planning to establish its first-ever liaison office in Asia in Tokyo. The move is aimed at facilitating periodic consultations with key partners in the region, including South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, as China emerges as a new challenge to the alliance, alongside its traditional focus on Russia.
According to a report by Nikkei Asia, the proposed office is due to open next year in Tokyo, although details such as whether Japan would provide the space or NATO would fund it were still under negotiation. NATO currently has similar liaison offices in New York, Vienna, Ukraine, and other locations.
Commenting on the report, NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu declined to provide specific details about ongoing deliberations of NATO allies. However, she emphasized that the alliance has offices and liaison arrangements with various international organizations and partner countries and that NATO and Japan have a close partnership that continues to grow. Practical cooperation between NATO and Japan spans areas such as cyber defense, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, non-proliferation, science and technology, and human security.
The proposal to open a liaison office in Asia comes amid rising tensions in the region. China has been expanding its military and economic influence and has been involved in territorial disputes with several countries in the region, including Japan and South Korea. The move by NATO is seen as an attempt to counter China’s growing influence, and to strengthen ties with key partners in the region.
Reacting to the announcement, China raised concerns about NATO’s “eastward expansion” and urged vigilance in the region. During a regular press briefing on Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Asia should not be a “battle arena for geopolitics” and that NATO’s continuous expansion in the Asia-Pacific attempts to interfere in regional affairs and push for bloc confrontation call for heightened vigilance from countries in the region.
The establishment of the liaison office in Tokyo is expected to enhance NATO’s engagement with key partners in the region and strengthen its strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region. It remains to be seen how China will react to the move, and whether it will lead to further tensions in the region.
