China and Russia Oppose Orient Shield 26 Military Exercises

The Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China and the Russian government have formally opposed Orient Shield 26, a joint military exercise involving Japan, the United States, and Australia. The exercises, held from September 8 to 24 in Hokkaido and Kagoshima, Japan, have drawn criticism for the first-time participation of the U.S. Typhon mid-range missile system.

Chinese defense spokesperson Jiang Bin characterized the exercise as a forward deployment of strategic offensive weapons disguised as a defensive shield. Jiang warned that the activity promotes Japan's military ambitions and remilitarization, which he claims violate the Potsdam Proclamation and Japan's pacifist constitution. He asserted that these actions heighten the risk of an arms race and military confrontation, potentially pushing the region into a dangerous vortex.

Russia lodged a separate protest on August 31. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the deployment of long-range offensive weapons on Japanese territory as absolutely unacceptable and a direct threat to Russian security. Both nations urged the participating countries to respect the security concerns of others to maintain regional stability.