Current location:International Interplay news portal > business
Reality bites in Asia over NATO push
International Interplay news portal2024-05-22 09:41:32【business】4People have gathered around
IntroductionStaff members work at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]When
Staff members work at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
When NATO leaders met last week in Madrid, they were joined-for the first time-by leaders from Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The invitations extended to the Asia-Pacific countries show that the trans-Atlantic alliance's ambitions far exceed the boundaries of its traditional geographical scope.
Although the participation of the four countries did help put on a show of unity for the alliance, especially after they agreed to cooperate with NATO to condemn Russia while hyping up the so-called China threat, their resolve remains to be tested by growing economic pressures at home.
On Monday, the chief of Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines, one of world's largest shipping companies, said Japan will have to continue importing Russian liquefied natural gas regardless of Russia's national policy.
Takeshi Hashimoto, president and chief executive of the shipping giant, said: "Nowadays, the spot market for both LNG and coal is quite expensive. That is one of the reasons why Japan is so reluctant to stop LNG imports from Russia."
Hashimoto's comments reveal how influential figures in Japan, which followed the United States' lead in imposing sanctions on Russia, are having second thoughts about that approach. They also suggest that, beyond the hugs and handshakes, the leaders at the gathering in the Spanish capital may start diverging from the common line on banning Russia's energy imports.
Since the Ukraine crisis started, Japan has not hesitated in taking provocative actions against Russia. However, as Japan's power system comes under pressure from a scorching heat wave, Tokyo has avoided any direct action on Russian LNG, which makes up 9 percent of Japan's imports.
Growing tensions
"The US and NATO members keep bragging that they are so-called like-minded countries but the talks could not disguise the growing tensions between them as the economic burden becomes more apparent and more pressing," said Wang Qi, a researcher of East Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. "In this context, people in Asia should stay on high alert over NATO because historically the alliance has constantly sought to make advances into new areas and domains and waged wars in various countries in the world to divert problems at home."
At the Madrid summit, NATO formally defined China for the first time as a challenge in its so-called Strategic Concept for the next decade, prompting grave concerns and expressions of firm opposition from Beijing.
"It is NATO that poses systemic challenges to world security and stability," said Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in a recent news conference. Attempts to undermine Asia's peace and stability are "bound to fail", he added.
Mustafa Hyder Sayed, executive director of the Pakistan-China Institute, a think tank in Islamabad, said NATO's tilt toward Asia is built on shaky foundations.
In this approach, Washington and its allies have decided to jump on the new Cold War bandwagon, Sayed said. "Unfortunately, this will make the region more insecure and more susceptible to conflict," he said.
Yang Hanand Xu Weiweiin Hong Kong contributed to this story.
Address of this article:http://belize.fidosfortywinks.com/content-5b799953.html
Very good!(9725)
Related articles
- EU seals a deal on using profits from frozen Russian assets to help arm Ukraine
- Butorac's goal in the 2nd overtime gives Minnesota a 1
- Cannes Film Festival: Anya
- Could YOU be 'fat' and not realise it? Experts propose shake
- Progressive prosecutor in Portland, Oregon, seeks to fend off tough
- Ten Hag addresses Man United fans after winning last home game of season. Chelsea beats Brighton
- 'Love triangle' row over a woman saw man, 37, stabbed to death by his rival, 43, in front of a seven
- Meals on wheels! Inside London's amazing fine
- At least 6 Egyptian women die after vehicle slides off ferry and plunges into Nile River
- Another politically progressive prosecutor in the San Francisco Bay Area faces recall election
Popular articles
- Politically motivated crimes in Germany reached their highest level in 2023 since tracking began
- Powerball $100million: Why winners of huge lottery prizes have to wait two weeks for their money
- State Department removes Cuba from short list of countries deemed uncooperative on counterterrorism
- Ship that struck Baltimore bridge had 4 blackouts before disaster
Recommended
Police break up pro
Who is Robert Fico? Slovakia Prime Minister shot multiple times
Judge power fuels Yankees in 4
North Carolina revenue decline means alternate sources for voucher spending considered
Hong Kong: Authorities will monitor internet platforms for non
South China Sea: Filipino activists decide not to sail closer to disputed shoal
State Department removes Cuba from short list of countries deemed uncooperative on counterterrorism
Cameron Harper and Lewis Morgan score five minutes apart to help the Red Bulls beat DC United 4
Links
- China's gigantic telescope detects over 900 new pulsars
- Rookie Langford's inside
- Body of climber recovered after 1,000
- Caitlin Clark turns focus back to basketball as training camp opens for Indiana Fever
- A Florida sheriff says 10 people were wounded by gunfire after a fight broke out at a party venue
- Kimbrel blows second straight save as Athletics win rubber game 7
- Demolition workers discover mysterious 100
- Alcaraz earns another comfortable win in Madrid. Spaniard is making successful return from injury
- Pope visits Venice to speak to the artists and inmates behind the Biennale's must
- China's gigantic telescope detects over 900 new pulsars