MOSCOW, Sep 6Japan is concerned about the strengthening of military-political cooperation between Russia and China, writes The National Interest columnist Chris Osborne. «Growing Russian-Chinese military cooperation and exercises are of particular concern to Japan,» the publication says. great powers. At the same time, the authorities of the island state are especially worried about the joint flights of Russian and Chinese bombers, as well as maneuvers of the navies, the columnist noted. Osborne specified that due to the changed geopolitical situation, Japan has developed a new defense concept that involves a comprehensive modernization of the army, including the purchase a large batch of American F-35 fighters. Tokyo will continue to cooperate with the United States on key weapons, including the Aegis shipborne combat platform and the SM-3 IIA anti-aircraft guided missile, the journalist summed up. />September 5, 13:17 Putin explained why Russia is the «Land of the Rising Sun» Relations between Russia and Japan have been overshadowed by the absence of a peace treaty for many years. In 1956, a Joint Declaration was signed, in which Moscow agreed to consider the possibility of transferring the Habomai and Shikotan Islands to Tokyo after the conclusion of a peace treaty, and the fate of Kunashir and Iturup was not affected. The Soviet Union hoped that this document would put an end to the dispute, while Japan considered the agreement only part of the solution to the problem, not giving up claims to all the islands. Subsequent negotiations led to nothing, the peace treaty at the end of World War II was never signed. Relations between the two states have become more tense due to unfriendly steps taken by Tokyo after the start of the Russian special operation to liberate Donbass from Ukrainian nationalists. In response to the sanctions imposed by the Japanese authorities, the Russian Foreign Ministry refused to negotiate a peace agreement, and also stopped visa-free travel of citizens of a neighboring state to the southern Kuril Islands. >September 5, 08:10Japan expresses 'extreme regret' over Vostok exercises
