Japan to Remain Vigilant after Russian Fleet Passage: Suga

September 5, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday that the government will keep a vigilant eye on Russian military activities around Japanese territory, following the recent passage of a large Russian Navy fleet off northern Japan.

"We'll continue to watch Russian military activities in its Far East closely, while exercising vigilance and conducting surveillance around our country's airspace and waters," Suga told a press conference.

The Russian fleet of 28 vessels, including frigate and reconnaissance ships, sailed westward through the Soya Strait between the northern prefecture of Hokkaido and Russian's Sakhalin at the weekend, the Japanese Defense Ministry said Monday.

The fleet was the largest for any single passage through the strait since the end of the Cold War, according to the ministry.

The ministry confirmed there was no entry into Japanese waters by the Russian fleet.

Suga also revealed that Tokyo made a protest to Moscow through diplomatic channels on Monday over recent ceremonies held, including on Russian-controlled islands called the Northern Territories in Japan, to celebrate the then Soviet Union's victory in its war with Japan in 1945. Jiji Press