Japan’s calls to drop ‘Vostok’ exercise near Kuril Islands pointless — Russian envoy- TASS

Japan’s demarches regarding Russia’s ‘Vostok 2022’ military exercise were rejected, because they are ungrounded and pointless, Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin said on Russian TV Friday.

"We have every reason to be concerned about reinforcing the defense potential around the Kuril Islands, and on the Far East direction in general. Accordingly, this is being done, including by holding such events as the ‘Vostok 2022’ strategic military exercise. Of course, the requests of the Japanese side, the demarche of the Japanese side was rejects as groundless and pointless," he said.

The envoy noted that Russia’s actions on reinforcement of defense capabilities on this direction are connected to the actions of the US, Japan’s main ally, "who have a powerful group of forces on the Japanese archipelago, and who regularly hold large-scale military exercises in this region not far from Russian borders, with involvement of its allies, including Japan."

Galuzin underscored that Tokyo’s concerns over the Russian exercise is ungrounded, because it is not aimed against any third side.