Japanese Ministers Clarify They Are Not Pursuing PM’s ‘Asian NATO’ Proposal, Reports Reuters

Tokyo – Japan’s foreign and defense ministers announced on Wednesday that they are not actively pursuing the proposal from the newly appointed prime minister to form an "Asian NATO," given the reluctance expressed by both the United States and India regarding the idea.

The proposal was put forward by Shigeru Ishiba prior to his anticipated win in the leadership election of the ruling party, with claims that such an alliance would enhance security across Asia.

However, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar voiced his doubts on Tuesday, indicating that India does not share Ishiba’s vision. Additionally, last month, Daniel Kritenbrink, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, remarked that it is premature to discuss such a proposal.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya stated during a news conference in Tokyo, "I think it’s one idea for the future. It’s difficult to immediately establish a mechanism that would impose mutual defense obligations in Asia." He clarified that this framework would not be directed at any specific nation, responding to questions about a potential focus on China.

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, in his first press conference following his appointment by Ishiba, noted that the prime minister had not mentioned any consideration for an Asian version of NATO in his instructions.

In a paper presented to a think tank last month, Japan’s new leader advocated for the establishment of an "Asian NATO," asserting that it would serve to deter China from engaging in military aggression in the region. He suggested that this organization could include various groups and alliances, such as the QUAD partnership involving India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia, as well as the trilateral security arrangement between Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul.