MOSCOW, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Russia has lodged a protest against Japan for its participation in a large-scale U.S. military exercise, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
The Resolute Force Pacific military exercise, scheduled to run till Aug. 4, includes locations of military training bases near Russia's "Far Eastern borders," the ministry said in a statement.
The command of the Japan Self-Defense Forces made direct hints that the exercise was needed due to Russia's active measures to strengthen its defense capability, it noted.
"Russia views such irresponsible activities, which have all the signs of preparation for an armed conflict, as unacceptable," the ministry said.
The ministry warned that the move poses a potential threat to its security and will "inevitably trigger adequate countermeasures." ■