Japan-United Kingdom: historical bilateral exercise between the armies of the two countries

(To Stefano Marras)
12/10/18

Begun last week on the slopes of Mount Fuji, the "Vigilant Isles" exercise continues at the island of Ojijihara, seeing around 50 soldiers involved in the Honorable Artillery Company belonging to the British army and the Japanese army's fees1. This is the first time that Japan hosts non-US troops on its territory for a bilateral exercise with the army. In October 2016 was instead the Royal Air Force with 4 Euro Fighter, to become the first air force in the world after the US, to practice together with the Japanese in the country of the rising sun2.

Focused mainly on the exchange of tactics and military surveillance techniques, Vigilant Isles constitutes an important advance in Anglo-Japanese relations in terms of defense and security. In fact, in recent years the two countries have strongly increased cooperation in the sector, bringing Tokyo to invite the first minister May to the 2017 meeting at a meeting of the national security council. Honor so far only granted to Australia. In the same year the two governments signed an "action plan" to strengthen cooperation in the military, intelligence and industrial-war sectors, thus making London the first European country to sign such an agreement with Tokyo (other countries are Australia and India, which together with the United States and Japan, form the so-called Quad, an informal geopolitical alliance to counteract Chinese expansionism in the Indo-Pacific).

Beyond the various exercises and declarations of friendship, the potential industrial-military collaboration is even more significant. Although still in a phase of study, London and Tokyo are in fact analyzing the feasibility of joint development of an air-to-air missile3, and an autochthonous fighter plane (sixth generation?) capable of rivaling the biggest American, European and Asian competitors. In particular, the attention is reserved both to the British program Tempest (BAE System, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo UK), for which London has declared itself available to potential external collaborations (the most likely candidates over Japan, it seems to be Sweden and Italy)4; is the future replacement for the Japanese semi-autochthonous F-2 fighter, for which Tokyo has sent official requests to London and Washington to explore a possible partnership5.

But what are the reasons that push these two countries so far apart geographically to greater cooperation in the defense sector? The main reasons are to be found in the rise of China, not only as a regional hegemon in the Indo-Pacific but also as a global power capable of subverting or otherwise challenging the international system promoted by the United States and Great Britain (as a partner second rank); and the desire of Great Britain post-brexit (see Global Britain program) to have a greater geopolitical role on the global scene and especially in Asia, which is increasingly becoming the world center in economic, technological and political terms.

A further reason is given by the fear of an American disengagement as the ultimate guarantor of the security of the two nations. Hence the search for other allies in order to better guarantee mutual national interests. London and Tokyo, mindful of the old alliance signed at the beginning of the 20th century, appear to be two natural geopolitical partners. Both have a strong and ancient military tradition (and naval above all), islands located at the borders of their respective continents and lacking the necessary means to dominate them, their strategic imperatives consist mainly in avoiding the birth of a too strong regional hegemon (Germany and / o Russia in the British case, and China in the Japanese case) as well as keeping the maritime communication lines open, being totally dependent on them for the supply of goods and energy.

If the plans are ambitious and converging interests, however, there are doubts and obstacles. Although for several reasons, both countries do not have a military budget that is appropriate to their needs and ambitions. Japan is also in drastic demographic decline, and its population is among the oldest in the world, putting its innovation and propulsive energy at risk in this way.6. The United Kingdom, although forecasts predict a substantial demographic increase in the coming years7, as well as the economic problems arising from Brexit (for which among other things, Japan has said it is willing to accept London in the TPP8), is facing possible Scottish secessionism (8,3% of the British population9) and the risk of a "hard border" between Ireland and Ulster, thus putting the Good Friday agreements at risk.

These factors, if not properly addressed, could make a geopolitical alliance between the two countries more difficult and less useful than it is potentially. Politics will have the vision and will to continue or not on this path.

  

9 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-24866266

(photo: Twitter / MoD People's Republic of China)