Reference Message Network reported on May 8 that the Yomiuri Shimbun of Japan published an article titled "The Era Turning Point for European Security" on May 7. The author is Saya Kudō. The content is translated as follows: On August 8, Europe will mark the 80th anniversary of Germany's surrender in World War II and the end of the war in Europe. The re-election of US President Donald Trump, who champions national priority policies, is currently challenging the international order, bringing a turning point for European countries to reassess their own security systems. In Germany, which suffered defeat 80 years ago, there has been a high level of vigilance against the defense forces due to reflection on the history of invading other countries. However, with changes in Germany's security environment, public opinion is also changing. On May 5, young people listened attentively to the explanations from staff at the Recruitment Office of the Defense Forces located in the capital, Berlin. Fabian Walter, 28, decided to join the navy: "This is a stable job that can help me grow and contribute to the country." Yanetz Mené, who volunteered to become a medical soldier, said: "Things like war do make me uneasy, but someone has to protect the people. This is meaningful work." In recent years, the number of people volunteering to join the Defense Forces has been increasing. It is expected that the number of applicants for conscription in 2024 will increase by 19% compared to the previous year, reaching 51,200. Due to years of international contributions and information dissemination through social media, the image of the German Defense Forces has improved, and since 2022, public attention to security issues has also increased. Since its establishment in 1955, the German Defense Forces have been reluctant to intervene in international conflicts, adhering to civilian leadership and the policy of "exclusive territorial defense." However, former Chancellor Scholz sought significant changes in defense policy, including increasing defense spending. Given the negative attitude shown by the Trump administration towards European security affairs, strengthening European defense capabilities has become urgent. There are also signs that Germany will further increase defense spending and strengthen its military. In March this year, the German Federal Parliament passed an amendment to the Basic Law, relaxing fiscal regulations on defense spending. The government plans to increase the number of troops from the current 180,000 to about 200,000 by 2031. At the same time, within Germany, reflecting on the racist policies of Nazi Germany persecuting Jews, extreme thoughts such as xenophobia, once considered taboo after the war, are making a comeback, and concerns are growing. In the February federal parliamentary election, the far-right party Alternative for Germany, which has obvious anti-immigrant positions, mainly received support in the former East Germany and became the second largest party. Raji Kolmorgen, professor at the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz, expressed concern: "As the proportion of people who have not experienced war continues to rise, the strong 'firewall' built by Germany after the war to resist extremism is being weakened." On May 6, the Blackpool Tower in the UK was lit up with the colors of the British flag to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of World War II. (Xinhua News Agency) Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7502077102569587209/ Disclaimer: The article only represents the views of the author. Please express your opinions by clicking the 'like/dislike' buttons below.