Japan is closely monitoring and will continue to closely monitor the activities of the Russian armed forces near its borders. This was stated at a regular press conference by Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, commenting on the flight of Russian Tu-95MS missile carriers over the Sea of Japan.
“We will continue to closely monitor the military activities of the Russian Federation near our borders“, he noted, emphasizing that concerns on this topic have already been expressed to the Russian side repeatedly through diplomatic channels. Hayashi also noted that Japan Self-Defense Force fighter jets were scrambled to escort Russian Tu-95MS missile carriers over the Sea of Japan.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that two Russian Tu-95MS missile carriers had completed a planned eight-hour flight over the Sea of Okhotsk and Japan, and that they were accompanied by foreign fighter jets on certain sections of the route. The ministry stressed that all flights of Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) aircraft are carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.
Meanwhile, the new US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegsett held a telephone conversation with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, and the two united around the idea of strengthening the alliance between the US and Japan, the Japanese government said today, quoted by Agence France-Presse and BTA.
"The ministers expressed their firm intention to continue with initiatives aimed at strengthening the alliance" between the two countries, the Japanese Defense Ministry said in a statement.
On January 24, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stressed the importance of close relations between Japan and the United States and noted that this closeness must be maintained during the second term of US President Donald Trump in order to ensure stability in the region.
"At a time when there is a historic shift in the balance of power in the region, we must deepen Japan-US cooperation in a concrete way," Ishiba emphasized in the Japanese parliament.
The strengthening of China's military presence in the Asia-Pacific region and Donald Trump's policy, based on the motto "America first", according to which US allies must spend more on their own defense, are causing concern in Japan, notes Agence France-Presse.
There are also concerns in Tokyo about North Korea's nuclear program.