Russia has lodged a protest against a large-scale joint exercise the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the US military are due to hold later this month. Japan has rebuffed the complaint, citing concerns over Russia’s increased military activities in Japan’s surrounding areas.
The Russian foreign ministry lodged the protest with the Japanese embassy in Russia on Friday.
The Keen Sword drill is scheduled to take place across Japan from October 23 to November 1.
The Russian ministry criticized the exercise for expanding year after year, along with the attendance of NATO member states which do not belong to the region, besides the United States.
The Russian side expressed a sense of caution about the joint drill to be held in Japan’s territory, including Hokkaido, which is near the border with Russia.
The Japanese embassy on Friday responded by saying that the protest is totally unacceptable, and conveyed concerns to the Russians about their increasing military activities around Japan.
The Japanese side then urged Russia to prevent a recurrence of a Russian patrol plane’s violation of Japan’s airspace near Rebun Island in Hokkaido last month.
The Japanese side also voiced serious concerns about joint actions taken by Chinese and Russian forces around the country.