Japan's Defense White Paper: Russia's Invasion Should Not Be Tolerated
Japan has stressed in its annual defense white paper that the international community should not tolerate Russia's military invasion of Ukraine.
This year's white paper on defense was presented to the Cabinet at a meeting on Friday. The document has a new section on the Russian invasion.
The report says that if Russia's invasion is tolerated, it could carry the wrong implication that a unilateral change in the status quo is allowed in other regions including Asia. It adds that Japan will closely watch the situation with serious concern.
The document says China is persistently engaging in unilateral attempts to change the status quo around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
Japan controls the islands. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. China and Taiwan claim them.
The white paper says China is stepping up its military ties with Russia, citing joint flights by Chinese and Russian bombers.
It refers to China as a major security concern for the region and the international community.
The document says stabilizing the situation surrounding Taiwan is important for the security of the international community, and that attempts to change the status quo are a problem common to all countries and regions. It adds that Japan will keep a close eye on Taiwan with an increasing sense of tension.
The white paper positions North Korea as a grave and pressing threat, citing its frequent launches of ICBM-class and other ballistic missiles this year. It says the North may engage in further provocations.
The document also touches on the National Security Strategy and other defense policies, which are to be revised by the end of this year. It says discussions are underway among relevant ministers.
It notes that Japan's defense spending in terms of a percentage of Gross Domestic Product is the lowest when compared with that of the United States, Britain France, Germany, Australia and South Korea.