As the first International Security Forum concludes today in Moscow, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu has issued a stark warning regarding the shifting security dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region. Speaking at the event, which has run from May 26 to May 29, Shoigu highlighted a concerning trend of military growth in Japan.
According to Shoigu, Japan is "slowly but steadily" ramping up its military capabilities. He specifically pointed to the acquisition of medium- and short-range missiles as evidence of a gradual push toward further militarization. The Russian official suggested that Japan is moving increasingly away from the obligations it undertook upon signing the Instrument of Surrender following World War II.
Beyond Japan's domestic military shifts, Shoigu expressed deep concern over geopolitical maneuvers in the United States. He revealed that a bill proposing the creation of a so-called "Asian NATO" has already been tabled. "The very emergence of this bill is a cause for serious concern for Russia," Shoigu stated, suggesting that such an alliance could destabilize regional peace.
The warning extended to the most critical of security risks: the potential for nuclear proliferation. Shoigu noted that the prospect of nuclear weapons emerging within the Asia-Pacific region cannot be ruled out, adding another layer of tension to the regional discourse.
The International Security Forum has served as a major diplomatic gathering this week, drawing more than 150 delegations from over 120 countries. Participants converged in Moscow to discuss a wide array of security-related issues, including the protection of traditional values and strategic measures to counter neo-colonialism and neo-Nazism.
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Russian security official warns against Japan's military expansion
cgtn.com
