While Japan, which is aiming to conclude a peace treaty with Moscow and resolve a territorial dispute, wants to maintain good relations with Russia, a senior Defense Ministry official said deployment of the French vessel in the Far East could pose a threat to regional security. Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera plans to tell his French counterpart that Japan has strong concerns about France’s plan to sell two helicopter carriers to Russia, according to a Japanese government source. In a move meant to show support for its ally, the United States, Onodera will tell French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who will visit Japan next week, that the sale of amphibious assault ships to Russia “will not be appropriate in view of the international situation” since the recent downing of a Malaysian airliner in Ukraine, the source said.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 13:59:52 +0000
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