Defence Ministry takes steps against threats to traffic arteries in Asia-Pacific-Shoigu

MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. The Russian Defence Ministry has been taking steps to minimize threats to transport and energy arteries in the Asia-Pacific Region, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Wednesday. Speaking at a meeting of the ministry’s board he described the situation in the region as "complex and unstable." Shoigu recalled that the region was home to more than 40 percent of the world’s population and accounted for more than 70 percent of the world’s industrial production, as well as a considerable amount of biological resources and hydrocarbons. Also, said Shoigu, the industrialized countries were heavily dependent on external supplies of raw materials and commodities via Pacific routes. "The Defence Ministry has been taking effective measures to minimize the existing threats to transport arteries, energy supply routes and the supply links that keep power facilities going," Shoigu said. Last year’s military exercise in the Far East (Vostok-2014), Shoigu said, demonstrated "growing combat capabilities and the troops’ determination to safeguard national interests." "To better the control of troops the United Strategic Command has formed a regional defence control centre. Also, the Pacific Fleet, the third Air Force Command, the air defence and the general purpose armies have created territorial control centres, which went operational on December 1, 2014," he recalled. Read more