Japan has sounded the alarm over greater military co-operation between Russia and China in a defence white paper that warned an isolated Moscow could draw closer to Beijing in the wake of the war in Ukraine.
The white paper, which was approved by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s cabinet on Friday, was released as the defence ministry prepared to ask for more money to address the threats posed by China, Russia and North Korea.
“For Russia, which is internationally isolated and has suffered losses in ground forces, the importance of political and military co-operation with China could increase,” the white paper said. It also highlighted the need to “monitor with concern” the activities of Russian armed forces.