[Epoch Times December 02, 2021](Interviewed by Epoch Times reporters Luo Ya and Li Jing) The ANNUALEX joint military exercise involving the five navies of the United States, Japan, Australia, Germany, and Canada ended on Tuesday. Scholars said that Germany’s first participation in the Indo-Pacific military exercise was a breakthrough, and Japan will exert greater influence.
The 10-day military exercise was attended by 35 warships and dozens of fighters, including the Japanese quasi-aircraft carrier Izumo, the American aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, and the German frigate Bavaria. The German Navy participated for the first time.
Regarding Germany’s participation in the military exercise, Professor Cai Xixun, director of the Institute of Political Science and Economics of Tamkang University, told The Epoch Times: “I think it is a breakthrough, and this is also a change in Europe’s attitude. In the Indo-Pacific waters, if there is no freedom of passage. , Some of Germany’s economic relations in Asia will be damaged, and even the entire world’s economy will be disrupted.”
Kay-Achim Schönbach, the commander of the German navy, said in an interview with Kyodo News that in order to strengthen its commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, the German Navy plans to regularly send German frigates and supply ships to the Indo-Pacific region every two years. In order to carry out more in-depth defense cooperation with allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
This year’s ANNUALEX military exercise is led by Japan. Professor Cai Xixun said: “I think the biggest change in this joint military exercise is that Japan is leading, because Japan has been relatively low-key in the past.”
Professor Weng Mingxian, Director of the Institute of International Affairs and Strategy of Tamkang University, also believes: “The free and open Indo-Pacific strategy can strengthen Japan’s international visibility in this region. Through such a free and open Indo-Pacific, Japan can participate in international affairs. Give full play to its role as a regional power and weaken the CCP’s influence.”
He said that the Chinese and Russian warships passed through the Sea of Japan and the Tsugaru Strait, which made Japan feel threatened. Therefore, Japan must formulate a new strategy from a comprehensive perspective. “At present, the focus of the entire international strategy is on the Indo-Pacific region, so the Indo-Pacific strategy has become an important issue for at least the next five years.”
Cai Xixun also said that the free and open Indo-Pacific strategic concept was first proposed by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “This joint military exercise is indeed helpful to the stability of the Taiwan Strait.”
Recently, the CCP has continued to escalate its interference in Taiwan. On November 28, 27 CCP aircraft entered the Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), including 18 fighter jets and 5 nuclear-capable H-6 bombers. A Y-20 air tanker was rarely seen.
On December 1, Shinzo Abe was invited by the Taipei Think Tank “National Policy Research Institute” to deliver an online speech that if Beijing attacked Taiwan, it would affect the Japan-US alliance, and Japan and the US would not stand idly by. He called on Beijing’s leadership to never make a misjudgment.
On the day the joint military exercises ended, Thomas, the commander of the US Seventh Fleet, said: “We are deterring aggression by some countries, which have shown unprecedented strength. And our actions, through exercises like ANNUALEX, You can show strength to these countries and tell them not to act rashly.”
Editor in charge: Li Qiong#
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