Why is NATO edging into Asia? - Nikkei Asia

Why is NATO edging into Asia? - Nikkei Asia Hello from Tokyo, where we experienced an extraordinary heat wave this week as temperatures reached over 35 C. With the lifting of travel restrictions and the weak yen, Japan is seeing a steady increase in international visitors, but now I am starting to feel sympathy for our guests as they swelter in the scorching weather. Meanwhile, the average summer temperature in Lithuania, where the 2023 NATO summit took place this month, is said to be 20 C to 25 C. Nikkei Asia's diplomatic correspondent, Ken Moriyasu, traveled to the small Baltic state and wrote this week's Big Story investigating why the security alliance of North Atlantic nations is now shifting its focus to the Indo-Pacific. The diplomatic concept of the Indo-Pacific was first mentioned by Japan's then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when he addressed India's Parliament in 2007. In his speech, titled "Confluence of the Two Seas," Abe said, "The Pacific and the Indian Oceans are now bringing about a dynamic coupling as seas of freedom and of prosperity. A 'broader Asia' that broke away geographical boundaries is now beginning to take on a distinct form." This eventually led to Japan's "free and open Indo-Pacific" strategy, though Abe himself resigned a month after his speech, before becoming PM again in 2012. Thus the recently touted idea of opening a NATO office in Tokyo to strengthen the group's engagement with the Indo-Pacific seems natural. The office would be aimed at coordinating with NATO's four Indo-Pacific partners: Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. However, the joint communique at the end of the summit did not include a single mention of a Tokyo office. The piece explains how the idea for such a site came up in the first place and how the final communique was reached among members with divergent views. If democracy is about bringing together divergent opinions and building consensus, Sunday's lower house elections in Cambodia may be the opposite process. With the main opposition banned from participating, the ruling Cambodian People's Party led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the longest-serving national leaders in modern history, is certain to take a landslide victory. Our Asia Insight explains why Hun Sen, who is set to pass the baton to his eldest son, needs to control the elections so tightly. The dollar's depreciation is drawing attention amid growing expectations of a pause in U.S. interest rate hikes. Our Market Spotlight examines the reaction of global investors who are pouring money into Asian countries such as Indonesia and South Korea, where currencies are expected to appreciate. On the other hand, China's sluggish recovery has sparked an outflow of investment from the region's biggest economy. While India overtakes China as the world's most populous country, some economists point out that a middle class with purchasing power has yet to grow compared to China. For this reason, a key focus is to ensure that opportunities spread to poorer communities. Our Business Spotlight takes an in-depth look at a push by India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, to sell the nation's thriftiest consumers an internet-connected mobile phone for as little as $12. Finally, if you're a fan of reality-based political dramas (like myself), I recommend a Life & Arts piece by Thompson Chau in Taipei looking into a Netflix series on Taiwanese politics. The program evokes both the intensity of the island's politics and the difficulties faced by party staffers -- especially women battling to resist and expose institutional gender bias among party leaders. Not to mention that the show's release could not have been more timely. Taiwan is set for both presidential and parliamentary elections in January. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Shin Nakayama Editor-in-chief, Nikkei Asia