Russia urges Japan to withdraw the "Tianfeng" missile.

[Global Times Comprehensive Report] Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova commented on the Russian Foreign Ministry's official website on the 18th local time, stating that Russia demands Japan withdraw the U.S. "Aegis" medium-range missile system deployed within Japan. She emphasized that despite Russia's repeated diplomatic engagements with Japan, pointing out that the presence of the "Aegis" medium-range missile system in Japan poses a threat to Russia's national security and regional peace and stability, the Japanese government insists on its deployment.

On the 1st, Zakharova stated that deploying such weapons within Japan, including under the pretext of military exercises, would pose a threat to Russia's security and is "absolutely unacceptable" for Russia. The aforementioned comments mentioned that on the 3rd, Russia issued a protest note to Japan regarding the deployment of the "Aegis" medium-range missile system. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov met with Japanese Ambassador to Russia Muto Akira in Moscow on the 16th, calling on Japan to take seriously the note previously submitted by Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry's comments stated that regardless of the excuses Japan may use, and regardless of the deployment timeline and methods, the missile system must not be deployed in the forward areas of its own territory. Russia demands that Japan cease such practices and withdraw the "Aegis" system from its territory. The Japanese government must fully acknowledge the results of World War II, including the territorial issue of the Southern Kuril Islands (referred to as the Northern Territories by Japan), and abandon its "re-militarization" policy.

"Japan's 're-militarization' is entering a new phase." The Russian newspaper "Vzglyad" reported that the U.S. "Aegis" missile system is being redeployed on Japanese territory, this time on Kyushu Island. Its deployment in the region poses a threat to Russia's Far East. Russian military expert Knutov stated that the range of the "Aegis" missile allows it to place the most developed areas of Russia's Far East within its attack range, and Russia has every reason to regard this deployment as a direct threat. (Wang Yi)