Japan Rebuts Russia's Criticism of Military Expansion, Calls it 'Absurd' Amid Ukraine War

According to the Central News Agency, Sydney, May 28. Japan's UN Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki rejected Russia's criticism of Japan's military expansion today, emphasizing that Moscow's ongoing war in Ukraine makes the Russian accusations 'absurd.' Reuters reported that Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said at a UN Security Council meeting on the 26th that the 'remilitarization' of Germany and Japan poses a threat to global security and undermines the outcomes of World War II. Yamazaki responded that Japan remains committed to the UN Charter and international law, whereas Russia is 'violating the Charter and continuing its aggression against Ukraine.' Yamazaki pointed out that Japan's strengthening of defense capabilities is to address an increasingly severe security environment and is not aimed at any specific country. German Minister of State Gunther Krichbaum also countered that the Russian remarks were 'baseless accusations.' Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Germany has proposed significant military expansion, and Japan has gradually relaxed post-war pacifist restrictions, launching its largest military buildup since World War II, largely in response to concerns over China's growing military power.