Moscow comments on Japanese-American exercises in Hokkaido

SANAA, Jul. 3 (YPA) – The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said that the ministry considers the military exercises on the island of Hokkaido, near Russia’s borders, as “a guarantee of the narrow-minded interests of Japan’s military alliance with Washington.”

Maria Zakharova added: “Tokyo indicates, through its specific actions and the statements of its defense minister, what its efforts in the military field are actually aimed at.  In this context, it is difficult to get rid of the feeling that the various initiatives made by Japan on issues of ensuring peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, including the concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, are in fact subject to one task – ensuring the interests of the narrow bloc of Tokyo’s military alliance with  Washington”.

She pointed out that “the size of the forces participating in the “East Shield” maneuvers, which will be held from June 24 to July 11, as well as the extent of their coverage and coverage of Japanese territory, was characterized by an unprecedented scale.”

Zakharova continued: “We are studying the clips of these maneuvers on the island of Hokkaido, close to the borders of Russia, from the perspective of ensuring the security of our borders in the Far East.