Japan’s defence report identifies China, Russia as top threat

A annual report released by the Japanese defence ministry has identified Russia and China as a major threat, stating that the deepening military cooperation between the two, including joint air and navy drills, is raising security concerns in the region.

In the report released Friday, the Defense Ministry noted that the international community is currently facing its greatest trial since WWII.

“It is not an exaggeration to say that we have entered a new period of crisis in the twenty-first century. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has shocked the world, with the loss of countless innocent civilians’ lives giving rise to deep indignation and grief,” the report said.

The report also raised the issue of North Korea’s ballistic missile launch and provocations toward the international community.

“It has also defended Russia in respect of the latter’s aggression against Ukraine, asserting that the fault for this situation lies with the United States and other Western countries,” the report added.

The defence report goes on to state that Japan is currently working on drawing up a new National Security Strategy under which the Kishida government will establish new strategies boldly and creatively.

The report says that the government will think flexibly beyond existing paradigms in order to preemptively deter changes to the status quo by force and to also be fully prepared for modern warfare, including information warfare and cyber warfare, both seen during Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

“To constantly defend Japan in a resolute manner and ensure continued regional and international peace and prosperity, as well as international order based on universal values, which has come to support this peace and prosperity thus far, the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) will continue to decisively deal with any and all difficulties to push through this time of trial,” it added. (ANI)