Russian Military Flights Pose No Threat to Japanese Security – Moscow

MOSCOW, April 21 (RIA Novosti) – Russian military flights near the border of Japan do not threaten the country’s security, Deputy Minister of Defense Anatoly Antonov told reporters Monday.

“Taking into account the regular flights of the Russian Air Force in the region in 2013, we met our Japanese colleagues halfway and agreed to start negotiations on a treaty on preventing dangerous military activity,” Antonov said.

“This decision was documented as an instruction to the military departments as a result of a strategic dialogue in ‘two plus two’ format in Tokyo. We think that such an agreement will meet the interests of both parties,” he added.

According to the military official, Moscow was surprised to learn of a statement last month by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Tokyo had suspended cooperation on the agreement.

“Unfortunately, some sort of ‘Western’ solidarity has prevailed in the approaches of our partners and national security was sacrificed,” added Antonov.

Japan earlier voiced concerns about Russian military flights in the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. The Russian Ministry of Defense has said that all Russian Air Force flights abide by international law.