Japan ‘concerned’ at Russia’s show of naval force

Japan has expressed ‘grave concern’ about large-scale Russian naval exercises in the seas between the two countries, condemning the trials as a show of force.

Japan is concerned about Russian warships conducting exercises near to its territory. Picture: Russian Defence Ministry / AFP

Japan has expressed “grave concern” about large-scale Russian naval exercises in the seas between the two countries, condemning the trials as a show of force intended to deter it from becoming involved in the Ukraine crisis.

According to Japan’s Defence Ministry, 24 Russian warships, including destroyers and submarines, have been training since the beginning of the month in the Sea of Okhotsk, close to the Russian-held Kuril Islands that are claimed by Japan.

“The Russian military is intensifying its activity in the east and west to show off its capability in concert with what it has been doing around Ukraine,” said ­Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi.

“A large-scale military exercise by the entire Russian naval fleet at this time of the year is extremely unusual.”

Japan is remote from Ukraine and has no direct strategic interests there but, as a member of the Group of Seven and an ally of the US, it could be expected to side with NATO.

It would come under pressure to participate in sanctions after any Russian invasion.

The government has said it is “considering” what sanctions it might impose.

Russian ships and submarines sail freely in the international waters surrounding Japan.

Matters are complicated by Japan’s long-held wish to recover the southernmost of the Kuril ­Islands, which were seized from it in August 1945, two weeks after it surrendered in the aftermath of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

No Russian leader has come close to handing over any territory, despite promises of economic assistance and investment in return.

Tokyo is usually reluctant to antagonise Moscow with criticism.

British diplomats were indignant, for example, that Japan did not condemn in more direct terms the novichok attack on exiled Russian dissident Sergei Skripal in ­Salisbury in 2018.

This month’s naval exercises appear to be a physical reminder that whatever is going on in Ukraine, Japan has to live alongside Russia as a near neighbour.

The Times