China needs to blame itself for hastening the likelihood of an 'Eastern NATO' emerging as NATO-type security alliance in Western Pacific in response to its persistent warmongering over Taiwan and its aggression in South China Sea.
The likelihood of an Eastern NATO coming into existence figured spasmodically in global strategic analyses for last three decades. These speculative analyses were directly related to the intensity of the 'China Threat' perceived by the Nations of the Western Pacific and the United States as the Net Security Provider of the Region.
The China Threat intensity in 2023 has started to figure alarmingly in threat perceptions of United States and its key Allies in Western Pacific, namely, Japan and South Korea.
In response to China Threat assuming threatening proportions the United States under three Presidents has pivoted back to Indo Pacific security in a hyper-active posture--- reinforcing security ties with Japan & South Korea, reclaiming Philippines in its security fold and enlarging its erstwhile US Pacific Command to US Indo Pacific Command, recognizing the significance of the Indian Ocean and India to Western Pacific security.
Contextually, United States reviving the QUAD in 2017 and thereafter forging AUKUS has to be seen in the above context.
In tandem, the China Theat started figuring as a 'Threat Perception' in NATO planning. In NATO Document 'NATO Blueprint 2030' China found mention as a 'Threat' more specifically to NATO'S Southern Flank and East Mediterranean.
NATO'S Major Members like France, UK and Germany have legitimate security interests in Indian Ocean security and in South China Sea being contested by China.
In the above perspective, NATO Secretary General had visited Japan and South Korea some months back for high level consultations.
Japan and South Korea have been invited to attend NATO Vilnius Summit later this year along with Australia and New Zealand.
NATO therefore opening a 'Liaison & Coordination Office' in Tokyo and Japan willing to host NATO Liaison & Coordination Office in its capital significantly indicates that there is a growing synergy between NATO, a Euro-centric Security Alliance with the US Security Architecture in Western Pacific.
Opening of a NATO Liaison & Coordination Office in Tokyo would facilitate closer coordination between NATO and Japan and South Korea. To this could be added Philippines too based on recent indicators.
China has reacted sharply to this development and the growing strategic proximity of Japan and South Korea after decades of mistrust.
Could this be the harbinger of an 'Eastern NATO' coming into existence? The present development is pregnant with such a possibility.
Concluding, it needs to be stressed that NATOs more intense linkages with Western Pacific Allies of United States adds one more significant layer to the US-led extended deterrence against the looming China Threat in Indo Pacific.
