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Russian defense chief warns missile systems in Japan may change balance of powers

Japan currently has Patriot PAC-3 systems, which form the basis of the country’s ground part of missile defense

Patriot PAC-3 missile unit in Tokyo AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi

Patriot PAC-3 missile unit in Tokyo

© AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi

TOKYO, March 20. /TASS/. Missile defense systems deployed to Japan may affect the balance of powers in the Asia-Pacific region, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at the meeting with his Japanese counterpart Tomomi Inada on Monday, the Kyodo news agency reported.

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"There are fears that this will affect the balance of powers in the Asia-Pacific region," Shoigu said.

Japan currently has Patriot PAC-3 systems, which form the basis of the country’s ground part of missile defense. Tokyo also has warships equipped with the Aegis missile defense system. In January, Inada said Japan viewed the deployment of the US THAAD missile defense systems as one of possible options to enhance defense, but gave no details on a particular plan.

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