MOSCOW, December 21. /TASS/. Russia has expressed a strong protest to the Japanese Embassy over military exercises with the US and Australia on the island of Hokkaido near Russia's borders, the Foreign Ministry said.

"On December 18, a strong protest was expressed to the Japanese Embassy in Russia in connection with another military exercise on the island of Hokkaido in close proximity to the borders of the Russian Federation with the participation of the US and Australian armed forces," the ministry said. "We pointed out to the Japanese side that we consider such provocative activities involving extra-regional states as a potential threat to the security of the Russian Federation," it stressed.

"We have warned that the irresponsible policies of the Fumio Kishida-led administration put Tokyo on the path of escalating tensions in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific Region as a whole. We will take appropriate measures to further strengthen the defense capabilities of our country," the Foreign Ministry added.