‘Obsolete pots’ called Russia’s Pacific Fleet appear funny to the Japanese – Ukrainian envoy

17.04.2023 11:15

Ukrinform

Russia’s surprise inspection of the combat readiness of its Pacific Fleet looks like ‘dance backup’ for China. Considering the condition of the Russian Navy, these training exercises failed to threaten anyone in Japan.

The relevant statement was made by Ambassador of Ukraine to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky in an interview with Radio NV, commenting on the opinion of some experts who claim that the aggressor state makes attempts to threaten the Japanese prior to the G7 Hiroshima Summit, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“They can try to do anything. They will not scare anyone. Everything will be reliably protected from all sides. [...] I think we see a ‘junior dance backup’ for China, which has just conducted very powerful and really dangerous exercises around Taiwan. After that, I think, Moscow decided that they also would like to demonstrate their presence in Asia, and announced the incomprehensible exercises of their Pacific Fleet,” Korsunsky said.

In his words, it is not the first time, when such situation occurs: Russian and Chinese ships are constantly sailing around the Japanese islands.

“I discussed this issue with the leadership of the Japanese Navy. It’s funny for them to look at these obsolete pots, which they [Russians – Ed.] call the fleet. Firstly, Japan has a powerful fleet; secondly, there is the well-armed U.S. Seventh Fleet deployed nearby... So, all of this is just to annoy,” Korsunsky noted.

In this regard, Korsunsky paid attention to the fact that Russian exercises are related to two out of four islands called the Northern Territories, which were occupied by Russia but whose sovereignty belongs to Japan.

“They [Russians – Ed.] were learning to repel landing attacks. It is such a cosmic nonsense that I don’t even know how to describe this. Japan has never, not even once in more than 50 years since the status of these islands had been clearly stated as occupied, spoken of any intention to take them back by any military means,” Korsunsky stressed.

A reminder that, on April 14, 2023, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that the Russian military had raised the Pacific Fleet of the Eastern Military District to the highest level of combat readiness as part of a surprise inspection.