By Ling Yunzhi

凌云志

Recently, the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) took part for the first time as an official participant in joint military exercises under the AUKUS framework involving the US, the UK, and Australia. Japan's involvement in the AUKUS exercises is essentially aimed at breaking free from the constraints of the post-war framework, seizing the high ground in military technology, and ultimately advancing its strategic shift from an exclusively defense-oriented policy to that of a normal country. This development warrants strong vigilance of the international community.

近日，日本自衛(wèi)隊首次以正式成員身份參與美英澳“奧庫斯”（AUKUS）框架下的聯(lián)合軍事演習。此次日本參與“奧庫斯”聯(lián)合軍演，核心目標在于突破戰(zhàn)后體制束縛、搶占軍事科技制高點，最終實現(xiàn)從“專守防衛(wèi)”向“正常國家”戰(zhàn)略轉(zhuǎn)型，值得國際社會高度警惕。

From Peripheral Alignment to Deep Binding

從“邊緣靠攏”到“深度綁定”

Since the establishment of AUKUS in September 2021, Japan has steadily infiltrated the mechanism in the capacity of a quasi-member. In particular, it demonstrates keen interest, particularly in areas such as the proliferation of nuclear-powered submarine technology and the sharing of advanced defense technologies. In April 2024, Japan announced its participation in the AUKUS Pillar 2 activities, which include cooperation on hypersonic capabilities and anti-submarine warfare. Japan's recent participation in the AUKUS joint military exercise as a formal member for the first time marks a shift in its role from a mere observer to an active participant and signals the commencement of substantive cooperation between the two sides.

自“奧庫斯”2021年9月成立以來，日本以“準成員”身份持續(xù)向該機制滲透，尤其在核動力潛艇技術擴散、先進防務科技共享等領域展現(xiàn)出強烈興趣。2024年4月，日本宣布參與“奧庫斯”的高超音速能力、反潛等“第二支柱”項目合作研發(fā)。此次日本首次以正式成員身份參與“奧庫斯”聯(lián)合軍演，標志著其已完成了從“觀察者”到“參與者”的身份躍升，雙方關系也由此進入到實質(zhì)性合作階段。

During the exercise, the JSDF participated in the core task of testing acoustic communication technology between surface vessels and UUVs. As the most groundbreaking part of the entire exercise, the task signified Japan's deepening involvement in AUKUS's core military technology development framework.

在此次演習中，日本自衛(wèi)隊參加了船舶與無人潛航器間的聲波通信技術測試這一核心任務，堪稱整場演習最具突破性的環(huán)節(jié)，也標志著日本將深度介入“奧庫斯”的核心軍事技術研發(fā)體系。

It is worth noting that Japan also took advantage of the multinational Talisman Sabre exercise hosted by Australia to fully demonstrate its cross-domain cooperative combat abilities. By jointly deploying its F-35A stealth fighter jets alongside the Royal Australian Air Force's C-27J Spartan transport aircraft, Japan achieved seamless integration between airborne delivery and precision strike operations. This not only validated Japan's systematized approach to the employment of air power but also served as preparation for its future participation in high-end warfare under the AUKUS framework.

值得注意的是，日本還借勢澳大利亞主辦的“護身軍刀”多國聯(lián)演，展開跨域協(xié)同作戰(zhàn)能力的全方位展示，通過將其F-35A隱身戰(zhàn)機與澳軍C-27J運輸機聯(lián)合部署，實現(xiàn)了空運投送與精確打擊的無縫銜接。不僅驗證了日本在空中力量運用上的體系化思維，也為其未來參與“奧庫斯”框架下的高端戰(zhàn)爭做準備。

Attempt to Transition from Technological Collaboration to Political Breakthrough

日本企圖從“技術合作”到“政治突圍”

First, by participating in multilateral cooperation under the AUKUS framework, Japan gains entry into cutting-edge technological domains such as artificial intelligence, quantum communications, and UUV swarming. While these technologies are outwardly promoted as defensive applications, they in fact carry significant offensive potential. This strategy of riding the tide enables Japan to pursue its goal of loosening military restrictions and breaking through the constraints imposed by Japan's pacifist constitution without formally amending it.

首先，日本通過參加“奧庫斯”框架下的多邊合作，可以涉足人工智能、量子通信、無人潛航器集群等前沿技術領域。這些技術雖表面標榜為“防御性應用”，實則具備顯著的進攻潛能。這種“借船出海”的策略，使日本能夠在不修改憲法文本的前提下，實現(xiàn)謀求軍事松綁、突破和平憲法限制的戰(zhàn)略訴求。

Second, Japan views its participation in AUKUS as a critical pathway toward becoming a normal state. During the exercises, Japan deliberately emphasized a dual-track approach, which focuses on both targeted technological breakthroughs and participation in large-scale multinational exercises. It is aimed at demonstrating its comprehensive capability to align with AUKUS's strategic objectives, thereby laying the groundwork for building a secondary power center with Japan at the core. It also reflects Japan's staking its future on the realist logic that power determines status.

其次，日本將參與“奧庫斯”作為實現(xiàn)“正常國家化”的重要途徑。日本在演習中刻意強調(diào)“雙線聯(lián)動”模式——既專注專項技術突破，又參與大規(guī)模多國聯(lián)演，正是為了證明自身具備承接“奧庫斯”戰(zhàn)略意圖的綜合能力，繼而以此構建以己為中心的次級權力中心，也表明日本已將賭注押在“實力決定地位”的現(xiàn)實邏輯之上。

Regional Security Faces Potential Crises and Multiple Challenges

地區(qū)安全面臨潛在危機與多重挑戰(zhàn)

First, Japan's participation in the AUKUS exercises is highly likely to trigger a new round of arms race. The core component of Japan's involvement, the testing of acoustic communication technologies between surface vessels and UUVs, points directly to a revolutionary shift in future underwater warfare, which is expected to set off a chain reaction of regional military competition.

首先，日本此次參與“奧庫斯”演習，極有可能引發(fā)新一輪軍備競賽。此次日本參與演習的核心科目——船舶與無人潛航器之間的聲波通信技術測試，直接指向未來水下作戰(zhàn)模式的革命性變革，勢必會引發(fā)地區(qū)軍備競賽的連鎖反應。

Second, Japan's engagement in AUKUS exercises brings with it an unprecedented risk of nuclear proliferation. The fact that Japan has gained access to data interfaces related to nuclear propulsion systems through the exercises exposes critical loopholes in existing technology control regimes. This form of technical brinkmanship not only undermines the non-proliferation regime established under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), setting a dangerous precedent for East Asian countries, but also, given Japan's status as the only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, risks reigniting historical trauma among its neighbors. Such nuclear-related moves may, in turn, intensify regional states' motivations to pursue nuclear capabilities, thereby pushing nuclear proliferation in the region toward a perilous tipping point.

其次，日本參與“奧庫斯”演習將帶來前所未有的核擴散風險。但日本通過演習獲得核動力系統(tǒng)數(shù)據(jù)接口權限的事實，已揭開了技術管控的漏洞。這種“技術擦邊球”行為一方面打破了《不擴散核武器條約》的防擴散機制，為東亞國家樹立了危險先例；另一方面，日本作為唯一遭受過核打擊的國家，其涉核舉動會引發(fā)周邊國家的歷史創(chuàng)傷記憶，刺激后者獲取核武器的意愿，從而將地區(qū)核擴散推向更為危險的臨界點。

Finally, Japan's participation in AUKUS exercises threatens to inflict unprecedented damage on the already fragile foundation of regional security trust. By transforming technological cooperation under AUKUS into a de facto military alliance and converting ostensibly defensive drills into offensive rehearsals, Japan is prompting neighboring countries to re-evaluate their own security strategies. This could ultimately unravel existing multilateral security frameworks, force regional actors into zero-sum choices amid major-power rivalry, and push the Asia-Pacific security landscape toward a bloc confrontation reminiscent of a new Cold War.

最后，日本參與 “奧庫斯”演習將使原本脆弱的地區(qū)安全互信基礎遭受前所未有的沖擊。日本通過“奧庫斯”體系將技術合作異化為軍事同盟，把防御性演習演變?yōu)檫M攻性預演，導致地區(qū)國家將重新審視自身安全戰(zhàn)略。最終可能瓦解現(xiàn)有的多邊安全框架，迫使各國在大國博弈中做出非此即彼的艱難選擇，從而將亞太安全格局推向“新冷戰(zhàn)”式的陣營對立。

Editor's Note: Originally published on thepaper.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.