MOSCOW. Feb 1 (Interfax) - The alliance of some Asia Pacific countries with the U.S. is not a disguised movement by NATO towards the Russian and Chinese borders from the east, Russian Ambassador to China Sergei Razov said.
"There are indeed military-political alliances involving the U.S. east of Russia and China. These unions are bilateral unions based on treaties on defense cooperation (with Japan and South Korea), three-party formats (the U.S.-Japan-Australia Trilateral Security Cooperation), the U.S.-Japan-South Korea, etc. However, I would refrain from definitely characterizing it as 'disguised approach by NATO' of the borders of our countries," Razov said in an interview published in the Friday edition of Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
At the same time, the Russian ambassador called the tendency towards an increase in the arms race in Asia and the Pacific. "The tendency is indeed alarming. According to SIPRI, Asia and the Pacific account for 44% of the world's increase in weapons trade. In 2012, Japan announced the modernization of its self-defense forces and Seoul decided to increase the range and combat load of South Korea's rockets. North Korea continues its rocket launches and is creating nuclear restraint forces," Razov said.
Razov reiterated that the plans to create an Asian segment of the global missile defense system cause concerns. "We are calling on our partners in the region to coordinate their defense efforts with the real challenges and threats and act without hurting the security interests of other members of the international community," the Russian ambassador said.
Commenting on the appointment of his son to the post of Rosneft representative in the countries of Asia and the Pacific, Razov said he appreciates the company management's decision. "For a young man, it's an advance payment, which he needs to work for. I will ignore the speculation on this matter. However, as Fyodor Dostoyevsky, whom I love, said, you will never reach your goal if you stop all the time to throw stones at the dogs that are barking at you," the ambassador said in China.