Tokyo/Rome: – Japan has started strong moves to counter the hegemonic Chinese activities in the Asian continent and the Indo-Pacific sector. Japan has started efforts to form a front of European countries against China. It is believed that the visit of the Italian Defence Minister to Japan on Tuesday was a part of the same efforts. Sources informed that it was agreed that defence cooperation between the two countries would be strengthened during the meeting.
The discontent regarding China is rising given the Coronavirus pandemic, new law in Hongkong and activities in the South China Sea. The European countries with friendly relations and trade partnerships with China have also started adopting an aggressive stand against China. Leading European countries have indicated changes in their China-related policies. Japan is exploiting the situation for its benefit, initiating efforts to form a front with these European counties against China. Japan has succeeded in securing the cooperation of the leading European countries, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, over the China issues. Besides, the alliance with Italy is considered the next step in the same efforts.
Last year, a tripartite meeting between India, Japan and Italy was held on the Indo-Pacific issue. After that, in December, the Japanese Foreign Minister met the Italian Prime Minister during his Europe visit. Japanese and Italian air forces have agreed on bilateral cooperation and the Japanese fighter pilots are receiving training in Italy. Against this background, the visit of Italian Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini to Japan becomes significant.
Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi and Italian Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini discussed the issues of the Indo-Pacific sector, joint war exercises and cooperation in the defence technology sector. Sources informed that Italy even proposed assistance to Japan in developing a new fighter jet. Earlier, the United Kingdom and Japan had signed an agreement to develop a fighter jet engine. The Italian proposal to participate in the project becomes noteworthy. There are indications that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will be visiting Europe next month. Japanese sources informed that there is a possibility that he will visit Italy during the visit.
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