Russia views the Japanese-American military exercises “Eastern Shield” through the prism of ensuring the security of its Far Eastern borders, said the official representative of the diplomatic service Maria Zakharova.
According to TASS, a comment by the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova spread on Saturday in connection with the Japanese-American military exercises “Eastern Shield”, which takes place June 24 – July 11, said that Japan is still moving away from a constructive dialogue with Russia on justified security concerns and from discussing ways to build confidence-building measures in this area.
The diplomat noted that Tokyo, through the specific actions and mouths of its Minister of Defense, indicates what his efforts are in reality aimed at in the military field.
“In this context, it is difficult to get rid of the feeling that the various initiatives put forward by Japan concerning the issues of ensuring peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, including the concept of a“ Free and Open Indo-Pacific Region ”, are in fact subordinated to one task – to ensure the narrow-block interests of its military alliance with Washington. At the same time, Tokyo continues to move away from constructive dialogue with Russia on our legitimate security concerns and from discussing ways to build confidence-building measures in this area”, – she added.
Russia views the Japanese-American military exercises “Eastern Shield” through the prism of ensuring the security of its Far Eastern borders, Zakharova said in a commentary.
“We cannot but pay attention to the unprecedented scale of the maneuvers in terms of the forces involved and the coverage of the territory of Japan. We consider episodes of exercises on about. Hokkaido, located in close proximity to the borders of the Russian Federation, through the prism of ensuring the security of our Far Eastern borders”, – the diplomat emphasized.
Zakharova drew attention to the fact that on June 29, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, during an inspection trip to Hokkaido, pointed out the “critical importance” of the northern direction for the country.
“As you know, the island state has only one neighbor on it – the Russian Federation. Thus, Tokyo, through the concrete actions and lips of its Minister of Defense, indicates what his efforts are in reality aimed at in the military field”, – the diplomatic official said.