Japan warns of increased threats to regional security in East Asia

Tokyo

THE "security environment surrounding Japan has become increasingly severe", the Japanese Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday in its latest defence White Paper, which cited what it said are potential threats from both China and Russia as well as North Korea.

The annual defence reviews have long cited North Korea as a threat and, more recently, problems with China have been stressed increasingly. But the mention of a Russian "threat" added to the sense of Japan facing dangers on multiple fronts.