MOSCOW: Russia protested to Japan on Friday about Tokyo’s plans to hold joint military exercises on the island of Hokkaido and accused Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of placing his country “on a path to dangerous escalation.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry, in a note on its website, said a protest had been issued to Japan’s embassy in connection with the announcement that drills would be held with Germany and Spain later this month.
The note said Tokyo was told it was “categorically unacceptable” to engage in military activity off Russia’s far eastern coast, particularly taking into account the participation of NATO members located far from the region.
“We view such activity as a potential threat to the security of the Russian Federation,” the ministry statement said.
“It was stressed that the irresponsible policy of the administration of Prime Minister F. Kishida is placing Tokyo on a path of dangerous escalation in Northeast Asia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.”
Russia, the statement said, had warned of counter-measures to be taken to ensure the country’s defense capability.
Japan has thrown its support behind Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor more than two years ago.
Tokyo and Moscow have failed to resolve a territorial dispute over four islands off Hokkaido described by Japan as the Northern Territories and by Moscow, which controls them, as the Kuril islands.
The dispute has prevented the two sides concluding a peace treaty since the end of World War Two, when the islands were seized by the Soviet Union.
Japan has periodically expressed unease about Russia strengthening its military infrastructure on the disputed islands.
Russia protests to Japan about joint exercises with NATO countries
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Russia protests to Japan about joint exercises with NATO countries
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry said a protest had been issued to Japan’s embassy in connection with the announcement
- Tokyo was told it was “categorically unacceptable” to engage in military activity off Russia’s far eastern coast, particularly taking into account the participation of NATO members
UK Police arrest 86 people at prison protest for Palestine Action hunger striker
- Demonstration outside Wormwood Scrubs held in support of Umer Khalid
- Khalid 1 of 5 people charged in connection with break-in at RAF base last year
LONDON: A protest outside a prison in the UK in support of a man detained for supporting the banned group Palestine Action has led to the arrest of 86 people.
London’s Metropolitan Police said a group of demonstrators breached the grounds of Wormwood Scrubs prison in the capital, refused to leave when ordered to do so, and threatened officers. They were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
The group, several of whom attempted to gain access to the prison itself, were protesting in support of Umer Khalid, who is currently on hunger strike at the facility.
Khalid is one of five people charged in relation to a break-in by Palestine Action members at an RAF base at Brize Norton last year, in which two military aircraft were damaged.
Khalid, who denies the charges, is one of several people who are on or who have taken part in hunger strikes in recent months, all of whom have been held on similar charges for over a year without their cases being brought to trial.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Ministry of Justice said: “The escalation of the protest at HMP Wormwood Scrubs is completely unacceptable. While we support the right to peacefully protest, reports of trespassing and threats being made to staff and police officers are deeply concerning.
“At no point was prison security compromised. However, where individuals’ actions cause risk or actual harm to hardworking staff, this will not be taken lightly and those responsible can expect to face consequences.
“Prisoners are being managed in line with longstanding policy. This includes regular checks by medical professionals, heart monitoring and blood tests, and support to help them eat and drink again. If deemed appropriate by healthcare teams, prisoners will be taken to hospital.”
