Japanese Air Force delegation goes to Russian Far East for consultations

TOKYO, December 16. /TASS/. Delegation of the Japanese Air Force has left for the Russian Far-Eastern city of Khabarovsk to discuss prevention of air incidents and to establish cooperation with the territorial command of the Russian Air Force, a spokesman for the staff of Japanese Self-Defence Force told TASS. “The visit to Khabarovsk is expected to last through to December 19,” he said. “The delegation includes representatives of the Northern Command of the Air Force.” The spokesman declined to unveil the route by which the delegation was to arrive in Khabarovsk citing security considerations. He said however that the delegation was not traveling by a military jet. Mass media said earlier that, apart from security of airspace, the organization of visits of Air Force delegations to the bases in both countries on airlifters might also be considered during the consultations. Unlike the Russian and Japanese Navies that maintain active relations and have annual joint maneuvers, the two countries’ Air Forces have not had practically any ties until this moment. Japanese Defence Ministry and top military commanders have said on a number of occasions they plan keeping up contacts with Russia in spite of Tokyo’s participation in sanctions over the events in Ukraine. Read more