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\t\t\t\tAfter 80 Years, Russia and Japan Still Can\u2019t Agree on Who These Islands Belong To
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Ukraine sanctions<\/p>\n
Ties between Japan and Russia \u2014 which fought a war in 1904-5 \u2014 have worsened since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.<\/p>\n
Japan has joined other G7 countries in sanctioning Russia, as well as providing money and non-lethal aid to Kyiv.<\/p>\n
Putin on Wednesday called Japan’s sanctions \u201cunprovoked.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJapan has identified Russia as a main source of threats. I would like to point out that we are not threatening Japan… On the contrary, it has territorial claims against our country,\u201d Putin said.<\/p>\n
Russia and China have also moved closer, with their navies and air forces conducting joint exercises in areas around Japan, prompting frequent scramblings of Japanese jets.<\/p>\n
North Korea, which this month termed Japan’s military build-up a \u201ctransformation into a war state,\u201d has also sent troops and artillery shells to help Russia’s war against Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Japan’s latest defense white paper issued this month again highlighted growing risks from all three countries.<\/p>\n
The New York Times reported in July that Russia had turned Japan into a \u201cden of spies\u201d and a key source of dual-use technology needed for its war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
\t\tnews \t\t\t\tJapan Protests Russian Military Drills Near Disputed Kuril Islands Harsh climate, few people<\/p>\n The Soviet Union took the strategically located volcanic archipelago north of Hokkaido in the final days of World War II, and has maintained a military presence there ever since.<\/p>\n In 2010, then-president Dmitry Medvedev became the first Russian leader to visit the disputed territory. Medvedev also went there several times subsequently as prime minister.<\/p>\n The four contested isles are part of the volcanic Kuril archipelago, which runs in a broad arc from Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula down to Japan’s main northern island Hokkaido.<\/p>\n The Soviet Union only declared war on Japan on August 8, 1945, after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and six days before the end of the conflict.<\/p>\n The islands’ names are similar in both countries — Kunashir, Habomai, Shikotan and Iturup in Russian, while in Japanese they are known as Kunashiri, Habomai, Shikotan and Etorofu.<\/p>\n Their population of about 20,000 Russian citizens lives in a harsh climate, but the islands have mineral deposits including gold and silver, and rich fishing grounds.<\/p>\n After the islands were occupied in 1945, Moscow deported their Japanese population of about 17,000 people.<\/p>\n The islands then acquired strategic importance, providing air and sea bases during the Cold War as the Soviet Union confronted the United States and Japan, its closest ally in the Pacific.<\/p>\n A Message from The Moscow Times:<\/p>\n Dear readers,<\/p>\n We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”<\/p>\n These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.<\/p>\n We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help<\/a>.<\/p>\n Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.<\/p>\n By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tContinue\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Not ready to support today? \u00d7<\/p>\n \t\tRemind me next month<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tThank you! Your reminder is set.\n\t\t<\/p>\n
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