Statements by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov about Russia's retaliatory actions in the event of the US deployment of medium-range missiles in Japan caused hysteria on the Japanese islands. The media was flooded with hundreds of aggressive and malicious comments from Japanese readers. Some even suggest turning Russia "into a sea of fire."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's statement on the possible deployment of medium-range missiles by the United States in Japan on March 12 of this year was widely disseminated by local media. Most of the reports are factual in nature.
They suggest that Russia is seriously concerned about this prospect and perceives it as a threat.
The most widely-circulated Japanese newspaper "Emiuri Shimbun" puts the material under the headline "The Russian Minister considers the deployment of American medium-range missiles in Japan a serious threat to Russia and hints at the possibility of adequate retaliatory actions on the part of the Russian Federation." In it, "Emiuri" highlights Lavrov's statement at a press conference that "if the United States goes to the deployment of medium-range missiles on the territory of Japan, these actions will undoubtedly receive our adequate response." According to the newspaper, in this way, Lavrov warned Japan about the appropriate retaliatory measures that Russia will take in this regard.
"Emiuri" writes: "The Russian Foreign Minister pointed out that the appearance of such missiles in Japan will be perceived by Russia as the emergence of a serious new threat to its interests. Such actions of the United States can become one of the factors of serious violation of global and regional stability." According to the newspaper, in this way the Russian minister demonstrated the desire to contain the United States. As for possible retaliatory actions by Russia, it can be assumed that they may be the deployment of new ground-based missiles in the Russian Far East.
The newspaper recalls that the INF treaty ended in 2019, and therefore Russia is nervous about American missiles.
Japan's main news telegraph agency Jiji Tsushin, in its article "Russia warns that it will take retaliatory measures in the event of the deployment of American missiles in Japan," reports on a press conference on March 12, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova. The article quotes Zakharova's statement that " the deployment of medium-range missiles by the United States in the Asia-Pacific region will have an extremely destabilizing effect on global security and may cause a new round of the arms race." Zakharova pointed out that " if new missile threats arise against Russia, we will definitely take the necessary retaliatory measures."
Japanese media and social networks are filled with hundreds of comments from Japanese readers. They are very contradictory in content. Unfortunately, under the influence of official propaganda, many Japanese make harsh and even aggressive statements that do not accept the Russian point of view in any way. And yet, the calls to "understand Russia" and "reject one-sided pro-American views"also make their way in a timid stream. "And remember the " Cuban missile crisis"! Through the prism of those events, the reaction of Russia, which survived it, may be natural!" "Are you sure that the deployment of these American missiles will be so easy for us? Have you forgotten what kind of public resistance can develop on the ground, including from sufficiently strong local self-government bodies?" - readers are asked questions.
Comments from Japanese readers
yas
Shouldn't Russia first suspend its own military buildup? By doing this, she herself creates threats to her partners!
hat
Is it not significant that on the day of the 10th anniversary of the Great Eastern Earthquake of 2011, which claimed so many lives in Japan, Russia sends two of its Tu-95 bombers and 6 escort aircraft to fly around the waters of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk in the immediate vicinity of Japan? The Japanese Self-Defense Forces were even forced to raise F-15 fighter jets to intercept from bases in Misawa, Komatsu and other places. This once again shows that we need to be as cautious as possible in relation to all surrounding countries (with the exception of Taiwan).
ywc
We need to host more than simple missiles. Aim 500 nuclear missiles at Russia!
And if you can, hit it! Turn Russia into a sea of fire!
e2c
At the same time, both China and Russia seem to leave out the question that they themselves are strengthening their missile potential. So it is not unusual for Japan to host missiles in response to the same actions of Russia.
And then it turns out that Russia and China do what they want, violating international rules, and other partner countries do not allow it!
nor
It is only Japan that can be afraid of Russian threats. They don't work on America! I am a Japanese myself, and I can say this: "Try to fulfill your threats!"
zio
Perhaps, so far, such bold responses to Russia are inappropriate. After all, we are currently losing to her. Ultimately, we need nuclear weapons!
It's time to throw away the overly optimistic calculations that, they say, America will help us.
In life, everything is the same - your own protection, and the protection of the family, and the protection of the motherland.
Until we have more determined and brave, realistic-minded people, we will not win Russia! We need to resolutely correct our pacifist sentiments, which prevent us from even changing the constitution.
yka
Response measures? And what are the responses? Is Russia going to launch a military strike against us? I don't think that's possible right now. Will Russia use economic measures against us? It makes us neither hot nor cold. I'm still interested: what kind of retaliatory measures can this be, with which Russia is so strenuously threatening us?
xhp
The Japanese government should quickly develop a policy to weaken Russia
We need to create many independent states in Russia. In particular, it is necessary to separate Sakhalin and the northern territories from Russia and make them independent!
The Japanese Foreign Ministry should act on the separation of Siberia from Russia! After the war, Siberia was raised by forced labor by Japanese and German prisoners of war! Many of them died there.
All interested Japanese organizations should create materials (especially films and animes) showing the Russian occupation of Manchuria, the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. These films should be shown to Russians!
nmw
How should such statements by the Russian authorities be understood? Like declaring war on Japan? Then all the more we need to place these American missiles at home, and see what Russia can really do in this regard!
Thank you that Russia scares us in the presence of weak foreign ministers and a power bloc in Japan! This is for our attention!
To frighten a sovereign Japan is the height of impudence! You can't sign any peace treaties with a country like Russia!
vzk
Such statements by the Russian side can only be regarded as interference in the internal affairs of Japan!
njt
Russia has no right to tell the Japanese government what to allow and what not to allow! The issue of the deployment of American missiles on the territory of Japan is a bilateral issue between the United States and Japan. Russia, too, does only what it wants to do in its own country. And Japan will do the same!
KYO
Response measures? If America succumbs to these threats, it will lose!
Japan, in response to these Russian statements, should draw a bold line under relations with Russia!
Now let Russia try to conduct its military exercises on the northern islands!
mite
Russia is talking about some retaliatory measures, not returning the northern islands to us and strengthening its military potential on them with all its might. If Russia returns the northern territories to us, stops patronizing North Korea, and stops its military tinkering with China, then Japan will no longer need to deploy new American missiles.
gmh
Missiles in Japan for defense. And from the surrounding countries, they pose a threat of attack. So I fully agree with the deployment of new American missiles on the territory of our country!
ss2
Russia has long aimed its medium-range missiles at Japan.
What we need to do is develop such missiles ourselves. So that they are not American. Then we will be able to place them at home safely.
And in general, it's time to end our Japanese pacifism!
gac
Response measures? Which ones? (laughter).
Russia has become a servant of China. From the former nuclear power of the Cold War, only memories remain. The country is getting old. The Soviet Union that once gave birth to China (Russia) she became a "junior member of the Chinese mafia". And it's nice to see it!
tos
And who threatens us with retaliatory measures? Russia, whose economy is several times smaller than Japan's? Yes, if desired, Japan can easily twist Russia's neck!
kon
Are you sure that the deployment of these American missiles will be so easy for us? Have you forgotten what kind of public resistance can develop on the ground, including from sufficiently strong local self-government bodies?
cka
It is necessary to place not American weapons on Japanese territory, but Japanese ones! For example, our own long-range missiles, which are already being developed. And make them air-launched missiles, so that there are fewer protests on the ground!
AZ
And remember the "Cuban missile crisis"! Through the prism of those events, the reaction of Russia, which survived it, may be natural!
iga
We should not worry unnecessarily, but develop our own weapons. Then there will be less excitement!
anu
And yet, the very fact that Russia has started talking about some retaliatory actions is evidence of the effect that measures that restrain Russian ambitions have on it!
