Eyes on China? Why some Asian nations ‘privately welcome’ Nato’s regional move

Nato is upgrading ties with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea to share information rather than deploy military resources, observers say

While some nations have voiced concerns, experts say most are ‘generally happy’ to see increased Western support to help balance China’s influence

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Nato has said it will upgrade ties and deepen collaboration with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:30am, 3 Jul 2023

Nato’s efforts to strengthen cooperation in a region increasingly dominated by China have the potential to create more stability and are actually “privately” welcomed by Asian leaders, say analysts.

Some Asian nations have also drawn strategically closer to their counterparts in Europe amid China’s growing military and security ties with Russia, among other developments.

Nato said last month it would deepen collaboration with its four major partners in the Indo-Pacific region by upgrading ties with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea under what it calls the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP).

Details of the ITPP are still being worked out, but are likely to include cooperation in areas such as cyberspace, countering disinformation and new and emerging technologies.

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (centre) with the leaders of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea last summer. Photo: AFP

The four countries, which Nato calls its “partners across the globe” – or Asia-Pacific partners (AP4) – have also agreed to work together more closely on maritime security, climate change and resilience, the transatlantic security alliance said in an April statement.

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