Link to article: https://apnews.com/article/japan-russia-military-submarine-e56d482676827add7b1909dec5fad159#
Japan’s military sent a surveillance plane and novy ship to monitor a Russian Kilo-class submarine spotted near Yonaguni island, just south of Japan and near Taiwan. The submarine and a Russian naval vessel moved through waters between Yonaguni and Iriomote Island. This is the first time a Russian submarine has been seen in the area. Japan responded with self-defense forces by deploying a combat ship and an aircraft to keep an eye on the submarine. This spotting has made Japan increasingly worried about its military presence and China’s growing activities in the region, especially near its remote islands, which protect Japan from naval attacks.
Japan is trying to protect its land and ensure that Russia isn’t up to anything that could hurt Japan, especially with China’s rising activities in the region. Japan has two options with this increase in activity. Either increase their military presence around those remote islands that protect the mainland from significant attacks. Another option is to open up diplomatic talks with Russia to try and sort out a deal where they can secure an agreement to make sure they don’t get attacked out of the blue. They also have allies with the United States that will decide to attack Japan, a tough decision because they could have retaliation from the United States.
Russia is taking a more hard-power approach to this situation. Instead of having a diplomatic talk with Japan to work something out, Russia is scouting the land that protects the mainland from Japan to potentially plan an attack on Japan or at least threaten it until Russia gets what it wants from Japan. This is a huge sign that tensions are increasing in this area and that the Russian war can turn into something bigger than what it is now.