Japan's defense minister slams nuclear neighbours

STORY: "Not only is Japan surrounded by actors that both possess or are developing nuclear weapons and ignoring the rules, but also year by year they are becoming more open in their disregard for them," Kishi said in Singapore at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security meeting.

In May, China and Russia conducted a joint aerial patrol in waters close to Japan and Taiwan, their first since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"There is no doubt that many countries are increasingly concerned by the joint military activities conducted by China and Russia," he said.