Japanese foreign minister advised its citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately after reports of Russia’s additional of troops on border with Ukraine and US warning of imminent Russian invasion of the European country.
The Japanese foreign ministry raised its Ukraine travel warning to the highest level, which urges its citizens to evacuate the country and those who are planning to go there, to avoid the country, regardless of the purpose.
The advisory cited recent start of Russia-Belaus military drills which started yesterday in Belarus which borders Ukraine as well as Russia’s deployment of military vehicles in black sea.
There are about 150 Japanese in Ukraine according to the Japanese foreign ministry which claimed the situation could deteriorate at any time, this is the same statement given out by the US which urges its citizens to evacuate with 48 hours.
Japan is one of strongest US ally which also happens to have border disputes with the Russians. Recently Japan said that it was time to become tough towards Russia which is Japan’s biggest supplier of natural gas because of Ukraine.
Japan which has been most quite since the crisis started, changed its mind after Russian president Vladimir Putin visited China for the opening ceremony of Beijing winter Olympics and affirmed with his counterpart Xi Jinping of China that Russia and China cooperation has no limits.
Vladimir Putin also supported China on Taiwan and China’s opposition to deployment of US ballistic missiles in Asia Pacific region while condemning the AUKUS deal reached between Australia, US and UK where Australia will get nuclear powered submarines from UK and US in its efforts to oppose China’s claims in South China Sea.
Japan has almost adapted US foreign policy internationally and like China and Russia, Japan and US are also coordinating their foreign policy togather. Japan hopes that US, Australia and India will help in containment of China’s rapidly growing power in Asia Pacific region and the world.
Although US and its allies say that Russia is about invade Ukraine, Russia has denied the claims saying that its the US which is pushing Russia towards the war with Ukraine so that it could apply sanctions against Russia.
The crisis over Ukraine started last year when reports said Ukraine with support of US and its allies were planning an attack on Ukraine separatists and also that US was planning to take Crimea back from Russia.
Russia deployed troops near its border with Ukraine and after same negotiation, Russian troops were withdrawn only to be deployed after reports of US deployment of missiles in Poland and Romania, Ukraine preparation to take Crimea by military force and renewed efforts to attack Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine by the government.
Ukraine also said that it was considering joining NATO which would bring NATO soldiers on border with Russia which is a red line for Russia.
So Putin took this opportunity to demand that NATO stop East ward expansion after realizing that its costly to always deploy and withdraw troops whenever Ukraine threatens to attack Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine or join NATO.
For US, this is a game that it thinks would weaken Russia once it goes to war with Ukraine, strengthen NATO and bring EU back to US orbit in their efforts to contain the rapid raise of China power in Asia Pacific region and the world.
For US, its impossible to fight a war on two front or to go against the two powerful countries of Russia and China even if all its allies join but after weakening Russia, US thinks that the rest of countries will fall into line but this games comes with many dangerous unknowns and its difficult to determine the outcome now even if Russia attacks Ukraine.
