Tokyo has lodged a protest with Moscow over its decision to expel eight Japanese diplomats, the top government spokesman said Thursday, arguing Russia is fully responsible for the deterioration of bilateral relations.
"We absolutely cannot accept Russia issuing the notice," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno at a regular news conference a day after Moscow's announcement, viewed as retaliation for Tokyo's earlier expulsion of Russian diplomats.
Russia's Foreign Ministry demanded that the eight diplomats leave the country by May 10, saying the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had spread falsehoods about Russia's military operation in Ukraine and adopted overtly hostile policy measures that have hurt the two countries' cooperative relationship built over years.
Japan has expelled eight Russians, including diplomats at the embassy in Tokyo, amid international condemnation over the scores of civilians killed in Ukraine. The eight did not include Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin.
Matsuno declined to name the eight Japanese diplomats but said they did not include Japanese Ambassador to Russia Toyohisa Kozuki.
Related coverage:
Russia to expel 8 Japan diplomats, likely in retaliation
Russia, China navy ships travel through waters in southwest Japan
Japan's lower house OKs bills to strip Russia of favored trade status
