Tokyo is becoming almost the main NATO handler in Asia, through the concept of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" it is trying to form a "pool" to contain Russia, China and North Korea, Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev told Sputnik.
"Recently, we have more and more questions for those who shape Japan's foreign policy. Its authors do not abandon their attempts to impose their own one-sided and purely ideological vision of interstate cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, primarily through the promotion of the politicized and confrontational concept of a 'free and open Indo-Pacific.' Its main goal is to form a 'pool of those willing to contain' Russia, as well as China and North Korea, which Tokyo has listed as the main threats to its security," the ambassador said.
The Russian diplomat drew attention to the fact that Japan is increasingly establishing contacts with NATO. The bloc, in turn, is demonstrating increasing involvement in the regional agenda of the Asia-Pacific.
"In this context, we are considering the expansion of Japan's interaction with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which is seeking to increase its involvement in Asia Pacific affairs. Tokyo is almost the main NATO handler in Asia, tendentiously justifying its policy by the factor of 'the indivisibility of the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific' and supporting its approaches with specific steps. In particular, in January of this year, a Japanese representative office was opened in Brussels. The issue of establishing a NATO 'office' in the capital of the island state has not been removed from the agenda," Nozdrev noted.
During NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's visit to Tokyo in the first ten days of April, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that he saw great potential in the development of defense industry cooperation between NATO and Japan. Also at the meeting, the parties came to a consensus on the need to accelerate cooperation in the development of dual-use technologies. Rutte also met with Japanese Defense Minister Gen. Nakatani, who declared his readiness to participate in NATO's activities to provide assistance to Ukraine in the form of military exercises and equipment supplies. The parties also confirmed their intention to advance cooperation within the framework of the Japan-NATO Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP) in the fields of space and cyberspace and in the field of countering false information. Rutte also expressed a desire to advance NATO-Japan defense industry cooperation.
Tokyo's Participation in Kiev's Gamble Will Have Consequences
Russia is publicly warning Tokyo that its participation in Kiev's gamble will not remain without sensitive and long-term consequences, Nozdrev pointed out.
"We also noted media reports about the planned transfer of intelligence data from Japanese satellites to Ukrainian intelligence services. In this context, we have consistently publicly warned Tokyo that joining the Kiev regime's gamble and crimes will have long-term and very sensitive consequences for it," the ambassador said.
The head of the Russian diplomatic mission noted the degradation of bilateral relations in the past few years, placing responsibility for this on Tokyo.
"Bilateral relations have objectively experienced an unprecedented decline, reaching the lowest point in the entire history of diplomatic relations between our countries. Responsibility for this lies entirely with Tokyo, which, after the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, in line with the so-called pan-Western solidarity, went to destroy the foundation of relations that had been painstakingly built over decades," Nozdrev said.
The diplomat described the condition for returning to dialogue between our countries.
"In the current circumstances, discussing the prospects for returning to constructive dialogue is meaningless. It will be possible to talk about it only after Japan abandons its unfriendly line in practice," the ambassador said.
After Japan adopted several packages of sanctions against Russia in connection with the situation in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on March 21 last year that Moscow, as a response to Tokyo’s unfriendly steps, was refusing to negotiate a peace treaty with Japan, was ending visa-free travel for Japanese citizens to the southern Kuril Islands, and was withdrawing from dialogue with Japan on establishing joint economic activity in the southern Kuril Islands.
Militarization of Japan May Threaten Russia's Security
The militarization of Japan may pose a threat to Russia's security, especially since Tokyo is boosting military cooperation with countries that are not friendly to Moscow, the Russian ambassador stated.
"Tokyo continues on its path toward accelerated militarization. It is increasing the production and purchase of weapons, including strike weapons, and reforming the command and staff structure of its Self-Defense Forces to increase interoperability with the US army. It increases the number of military exercises and training, including together with the US forces stationed here. All this cannot but cause concern for us and its other neighboring states," Nozdrev noted.
Moscow is especially concerned by Japan's growing military cooperation with countries that are not friendly to Russia, the diplomat added.
"Such an irresponsible line of policy on the part of Japan could trigger a dangerous escalation in the Asia Pacific and pose a threat to Russia's security, to which we will be forced to respond with adequate measures," he said.
Russia is closely monitoring Japan's military activities near its eastern border, the diplomat also pointed out, adding that Tokyo's actions boost the arms race and could be detrimental to the security of the entire region.