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Russia reserves right to retaliate if threat emanates from Japan-US military cooperation

Russia is "closely keeping an eye on Japan's plans for an accelerated buildup of its own military might, in close coordination with the US, especially its unprecedented hike in defense spending, which includes expenditures on organizing large-scale exercises in close proximity to Russia's borders," the ministry stressed

MOSCOW, January 30. /TASS/. Moscow reserves the right to retaliate if US-Japanese military cooperation poses a security threat, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated in publicized comments on the results of Moscow’s diplomacy for 2022.

"We have repeatedly conveyed to the Japanese side through diplomatic channels that such actions are teeming with potential threats to the security of our country and regional stability in general. We have directly warned them that we reserve the right to take adequate reciprocal measures, naturally in accordance with the approved defense doctrine of the Russian Federation," the Foreign Ministry said.

It also pointed out that the updated National Security Strategy adopted by Japan in December 2022 is seen as "just more evidence of official Tokyo’s accelerated advance towards militarization, particularly in order to serve US interests in the Asia-Pacific Region, including acquiring its own strike capabilities".

Russia is "closely keeping an eye on Japan's plans for an accelerated buildup of its own military might, in close coordination with the US, especially its unprecedented hike in defense spending, which includes expenditures on organizing large-scale exercises in close proximity to Russia's borders," the ministry stressed.

It also emphasized that the policy of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida administration's can trigger new security challenges and a spike in tensions in the Asia-Pacific Region. "Behind the standard references to the 'North Korean threat,' we have been witnessing attempts to camouflage the aggressive military-strategic plans and the plans of the Japanese-American alliance in the region aimed primarily against Russia and China," the Foreign Ministry went on to say. "We don’t find it is expedient to respond to the illusions hatched in the minds of certain Japanese politicians," it added.

"In this connection, we point out to the Japanese side that it is necessary to remember perfectly well the lessons of the past. Tokyo is well aware of what a policy of militarism leads to," the ministry maintained.