2020 DEFENSE OF JAPAN Defense White Paper DIGEST Chapter 2 Russia Overview ● Russia is modernizing its military equipment, including strategic nuclear forces, and is stepping up military activities, so close scrutiny of developments in this regard will be required. ● Regarding conventional forces, Russia is developing fifth generation fighters and heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicles, and is also stepping up its activities in the realms of space and electromagnetic spectrum. Strategic bomber “TU-160” visiting South Africa for the first time; Front: Lieutenant-General Kobylash, commander of Russia's Long-Range Aviation (right) and South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, MapisaNqakula [Russian Ministry of Defence] Advancement in the Military Cooperation with China ● In July 2019, two Russian Tu-95 long-range bombers carried out joint air patrol with two Chinese H-6 bombers from the Sea of Japan to the East China Sea. ● In September 2019, Russian Minister of Defence Shoigu and, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission Zhang, signed a package of documents on military and military-technical cooperation. ● The authorities of both countries clearly denied that they would form a military alliance, but attention should be paid to future developments in light of recent advancement in their military cooperation. Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi (June 2019) [Presidential Executive Office of Russia] Activities in Japan’s Northern Territories and the Vicinity of Japan ● Russia continues to station AFRF in the Northern Territories, which are inherent territories of Japan, and has recently been increasing the AFRF’s activities. ● In June 2019, two Tu-95 long-range bombers flew around Japan, and intruded into Japan’s territorial airspace twice when they flew northward over the Pacific Ocean. In July, one Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft intruded into Japan’s airspace above the territorial waters of Takeshima Island. In February 2020, two Su-34 fighter-bombers deployed to the Far East were observed for the first time. Su-34 fighter-bomber ● In October 2019, the Eastern Military District announced that drills to repel landings by a hypothetical enemy assault force were to be held in the Sakhalin and Primorsky regions, involving up to 8,000 personnel, more than 3,000 units of tanks and military equipment, and up to 50 planes and helicopters. ● Even amid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic within the forces, military activities have remained active. Digest 20