RUSSIAN Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova sounded the alarm bells on Thursday over Japan’s policy of “remilitarisation.” 

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Ms Zakharova said the course being followed by Japan runs counter to the pacifist principles enshrined in its postwar constitution and will only increase regional tensions.

Ms Zakharova said Russia and other countries are concerned about Japan’s recent moves toward remilitarisation.

She said: “We regularly remind the Japanese side that this course is harmful.”

Ms Zakharova’s remarks came as Japan strengthens its military deployment in areas including Okinawa while advancing a series of policy initiatives aimed at further enhancing what it calls its defence capabilities.

On June 9, the Policy Affairs Research Council of Japan’s right-wing ruling Liberal Democratic Party approved a draft proposal to be submitted to the government calling for revisions to the country’s three key national security documents later this year. 

The three security documents are the National Security Strategy, the National Defence Strategy and the Defence Build-up Programme.

The proposal recommends further increasing defence spending and improving the readiness and operational capabilities of the reserve of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces to respond to potential contingencies.

Japan’s remilitarisation has drawn widespread concern across the international community, especially from China.