UK, Japan Forge Closer Military Ties Vs. China; Will Hold Joint Naval Drill In Asia

The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R0-8), flagship of the Royal Navy and her Carrier Strike Group 21, will conduct combat drills for the first time with warships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in Asian waters this year.

The joint decision confirming the deployment of CSG 21 to the Indo-Pacific was revealed by top national security officials of both Japan and the United Kingdom in a "2+2" virtual conference.

Involved in this virtual meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi, Foreign Minister Dominic Raab and Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace. The four ministers agreed Japan and the UK are each other’s closest security partners in Asia and Europe.

Japan and the UK have accelerated the pace of their military cooperation due to China's continuing militarization of the South China Sea and East China Sea, and its relentless harassment of the democratic Republic of China or Taiwan.

Raab and Wallace reaffirmed the UK’s long-term commitment to working closely with Japan to uphold the security of the Indo-Pacific and demonstrate the value of a unified approach to facing global challenges.

“We will take security and defense cooperation between Japan and the U.K. to a higher level,” said Motegi.

“Japan and the U.K. have forged a close defense and security partnership that is being elevated to new heights this year when the U.K. Carrier Strike Group visits the Indo-Pacific,” according to Wallace.

HMS Queen Elizabeth (R0-8),

The UK has also indicated its intention to join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or the Quad, which consists of Japan, the United States, India and Australia.

The addition of the UK and its formidable naval power to Quad will transform this informal security group into what some are calling the "Asian NATO."

The Royal Navy said CSG 21 reached Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in December 2020. It was also in December when JMSDF and the Royal Navy formalized their agreement to deploy together as part of CSG 21.

During her Indo-Pacific mission, HMS Queen Elizabeth will host Northrop Grumman F-35B stealth jets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, or “The Wake Island Avengers,” as well as F-35Bs from the Royal Air Force’s 617 Squadron “The Dambusters.” American participation in CSG 21 will include the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG-68).

The Royal Navy said CSG21 will provide opportunities for the RAF and Royal Navy, along with the JMSDF and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to operate together and support opportunities for future collaboration. (6 Feb. 2021)

Japan, UK Oppose China Law Authorizing Force Vs. Foreign Ships

Japan and the United Kingdom are warning China not to abuse its contentious Coast Guard Law that allows its coast guard vessels to fire on foreign ships at their discretion in the South China Sea and East China Sea.

The law, which took effect Monday, was assailed Wednesday by both Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi and Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi during an online conference with their British counterparts, Foreign Minister Dominic Raab and Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace.

In their joint statement issued after the talks, the ministers expressed “serious concerns" about rising tension in regional seas. They urged China and other Asian states involved in territorial disputes with China “to exercise self-restraint and refrain from activities likely to raise tensions, in particular militarization and coercion.”

They also expressed “grave concerns” over China’s crackdown on opposition pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong, and “gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang."

The ministers also agreed to strengthen defense and security cooperation between Japan and the UK to ensure a “free and open Indo-Pacific” goal Japan has been fighting for along with the U.S., Australia and India to deter China.

“Japan is staying alert and paying close attention to its effect on us,” said Motegi said in the online talks. "I believe the law should not be used in a way that violates international law.”

Kishi said Japan "would like to share our strong concern with you (the UK)” about the Coast Guard Law. He welcomed the deployment this March to East Asia of a British carrier strike group led by the new Royal Navy aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), as part of Britain’s growing commitment to the region.

Royal Navy Group commander Commodore Steve Moorehouse said the deployment will be the navy's largest peacetime task group in 25 years. It proves Britain's commitment to maintaining world security, or "a visible demonstration of global Britain."

"In practical terms, my strike group is now at very high readiness, meaning we are at five days' notice to deploy, if required, in response to global events and in defense of British interests," said Moorehouse last month.

The supercarrier's air wing on this maiden Asian deployment will consist of 14 Northrop Grumman F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing stealth fighters and four helicopters. Its surface escort will include four Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates. a nuclear submarine, a combined fleet stores ship and a tanker.

Only this week, the Biden administration indicated its support for transforming the "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue," or Quad, involving Japan, the U.S., India and Australia into a formal Asian military alliance also including other countries outside Asia such as the UK. This proposed military pact is being called the Asian NATO.

Japan and China Coast Guard Vessels

The UK has also indicated its willingness to join the Asian NATO. Citing credible government sources, British media said the administration of Prime Minister Boris Johnson is not objecting to the UK joining Quad.

Speaking at this week’s online United States Institute for Peace forum, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said transforming Quad into a military alliance is a goal of the Biden administration.  He said the Biden administration “really wants to carry forward” the work of bolstering the capabilities of Quad beyond an informal grouping of countries standing-up to China.

The Coast Guard Law allows the China Coast Guard to “take all necessary measures, including the use of weapons when national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction are being illegally infringed upon by foreign organizations or individuals at sea."

The law also allows coast guard personnel to demolish other countries’ structures built on Chinese-claimed reefs and to board and inspect foreign vessels in waters claimed by China. (4 Feb. 2021)

UK Poised To Join Anti-China 'Quad,' Or 'Asian NATO' Alliance

The global military pushback against China's expansionism in the Indo-Pacific is accelerating, with the United Kingdom now indicating its readiness to join a de facto military alliance of democracies being called the "Asian NATO."

British media citing credible government sources said the administration of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made no objections the UK join the "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue," or QSD, better known as Quad.

Quad, a 2017 initiative of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, will establish an "Asian arc of democracy." This arc will include countries in Central Asia, Mongolia, South Korea, Southeast Asia and "virtually all the countries on China's periphery -- except for China itself," according to Quad.

Quad has been called the "Asian NATO" due to the breadth of its membership. It's long been anticipated Quad will eventually transform into a military alliance. The original members of Quad are Japan, India, the United States and Australia.

The UK is poised to join the Quad following a proposal from the Biden administration to expand the group’s membership as a counterweight to China.

China hawk Kurt Campbell, appointed Indo-Pacific coordinator at the National Security Council (NSC) only last week, has put forward a position paper encouraging Asian countries to join the Quad.

There are, as yet, no firm proposals on UK membership in the Quad for Johnson to review. On the other hand, Johnson previously highlighted the similarities between the UK’s foreign policy and the principles set out by Biden.

Kurt Campbell

Campbell formerly served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs under the Obama administration. He was one of the architects of Obama's "Pivot to Asia," or East Asia Strategy.

This strategy called for strengthening bilateral security alliances; deepening America's working relationships with emerging powers (including China) and advancing democracy and human rights, among others.

As Biden's Indo-Pacific Coordinator, or "Asia Tzar," Campbell will have broad management over NSC directorates responsible for China-related issues and parts of Asia.

He's expected to adapt the Pivot to Asia strategy to deal with the new strategic situation created by ex-president Donald Trump's confrontational strategic competition against China.

Campbell reports directly to national security adviser Jake Sullivan, a close friend whom he worked with at the Department of State during the Clinton administration.

Campbell and Sullivan made their thoughts known about how to deal with China in late 2019 in a joint essay for the magazine, Foreign Affairs, with the title, “Competition Without Catastrophe: How America Can Both Challenge and Coexist With China.”

In this article, they dismissed the failed strategy that sought to engage China in hopes China will liberalize. Instead, they argue competition against China must revolve around the goal of coexisting with China rather than expecting to change it. (Jan. 31, 2021)