Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has described Vladimir Putin's visit to the disputed Kuril islands as "absolutely unacceptable". Putin made the trip on Thursday to the island of Iturup, which is known in Japan as Etorofu.
Japan Protests Putin's Island Visit
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has criticised Putin's visit, saying it has worsened Japanese sentiment towards Russia. The Kuril islands have been a point of contention between Japan and Russia for decades, with the countries unable to agree on a peace treaty after World War Two.
A Long-Standing Dispute
The Kuril islands sit between Hokkaido in northern Japan and Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. Four of the southernmost islands are claimed by Japan, which calls them the Northern Territories. They are administered by Russia, and at the end of World War Two, the Soviet Union annexed the island chain and deported around 17,000 Japanese residents.
Russia's Military Presence
The island of Iturup is used as Russia's primary military air base in the region. Last month, Chinese and Russian naval warships sailed through a strait in the Kuril islands during a joint patrol. Russia also holds regular military drills near the islands, drawing condemnation from Japan.
Japan's Response
Japan's foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi earlier on Thursday said the islands were "inherently Japanese territory both historically and under international law, and the Government of Japan strongly protests this visit". Japan has protested against previous visits by Russian officials to the disputed islands, including Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and his predecessor Dmitry Medvedev.
A Decades-Long Stalemate
Attempts to resolve the territorial dispute have made little progress over the years. Bilateral ties have also remained frosty, with Japan imposing sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Kuril islands are a strategic area for Russia, which has beefed up its military presence on the islands over the past decade.
What's Next
Japan's protests against Putin's visit are unlikely to change the situation on the ground. However, they do reflect the ongoing tensions between Japan and Russia over the Kuril islands. The dispute is a long-standing one, and it will likely take continued diplomatic efforts to find a resolution.
Source: Joy Online
