Russia Boosts Defences Near Japan Amid Asia Pacific Row With US

Russia on Wednesday boosted its defences near Japan amid United State row over Asia Pacific.

Russia said that a division of its Bastion coastal defence missile systems has been deployed to Paramushir, one of the Kuril Islands in the north Pacific, some of which Japan claims as its territory.

The move is part of a wider strengthening of Russia’s defences in its vast far eastern regions.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday, partly in response to what he called United States efforts to “contain” Russia and China.

“To contain Russia and China, the United States is significantly increasing its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening its political and military links with its allies, continuing to create a new American security architecture in this region."

Shoigu added that the Bastion system would bolster Russian security around the Kuril Islands chain.

Russia's move also comes after high-level visits by Asian leaders to both sides of the Ukraine war.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, a close US ally made a surprise trip to Ukraine this week, which some observers said was an attempt to upstage Chinese President Xi Jinping‘s state visit to Russia.