MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. The Russian Defense Ministry has been taking steps to minimize threats to transport and energy arteries in the Asia-Pacific Region, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a meeting of the ministry’s board he described the situation in the region as "complex and unstable."
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Shoigu recalled that the region is home to more than 40% of the world’s population and accounts for more than 70% of the world’s industrial production, as well as a considerable amount of biological resources and hydrocarbons. Shoigu stressed that industrialized countries are heavily dependent on external supplies of raw materials and commodities via Pacific routes.
"The Defense Ministry has been taking effective measures to minimize the existing threats to transport arteries, energy supply routes and the supply links that keep power facilities going," Shoigu said.
Last year’s military exercise in the Far East (Vostok-2014), Shoigu said, demonstrated "growing combat capabilities and the troops’ determination to safeguard national interests."
"To improve the control of troops the United Strategic Command has formed a regional defense control center. The Pacific Fleet, the third Air Force Command, the air defense and the general purpose armies have created territorial control centers, which went operational on December 1, 2014."