Japan renews island dispute with Russia [Kuril Islands]

The Canberra Times (AUS) ^ | 08 Mar 2022 | not listed

[Meet the New Boss]

Japan's government has renewed its claims in a territorial dispute with Russia over the Pacific archipelago of the Southern Kuril Islands.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Tuesday described the four islands as an "integral part" of Japan, the Japanese daily Sankei Shimbun reported.

Previously, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had also used this wording.

In view of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, his government is returning to language that Kishida's predecessor Shinzo Abe had avoided for 10 years in the hope of reaching an agreement with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

snip

Abe dispensed with the phrase "integral part" of Japan during his years in office in order to signal a more flexible stance in the dispute with Russia in the hope of a historic breakthrough.

Kishida's return to the old language, according to observers, now signals that he is saying goodbye to this hope.

[Meet the New Boss]

This follows reports that Russia is continuing to move military equipment by train from its Eastern Military District toward the Ukrainian Front

[BiglyCommentary]

Japan senses weakness. The battle of the S’s begins, Samurai vs Spenaz.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[srmanuel]

Bonsai, Bonsai, Bonsai or a modified version of Tora, Tora, Tora

[crz]

They aint the asshole of the world, but I guess one can see it plainly from there.

Nothing but one continuous string of volcanoes.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Now is the time to invade and seize the islands, while Russia is distracted with their Black Sea War. Only real danger is if China would step in—China-Japan has a lot of bad blood. Its also a good time for Turkey to seize Syria for their new Empire and roll into Lebanon too. Japan could strike a deal—China gets Taiwan—Japan, those Russian Islands.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

Can’t blame them. Look how incompetent Russia looks

[BiglyCommentary]

Samurai vs Spenaz.

This would be a great new TV reality show. Each episode they battle over some small island in the chain. In the event of a draw, viewers get to vote which group gets thrown into island’s volvano.

[larrytown]

All of this is starting to look like a crappy real-world version of ‘Risk’ that’s getting outta hand.

[Marko413]

All of this is starting to look like a crappy real-world version of ‘Risk’ that’s getting outta hand.

Could be worse, could be a game of 'Diplomacy'. ;o)

[Ancesthntr]

I was always disappointed that the Kuriles weren’t taken back before Hirohito died. I seriously don’t think that the Soviets could have defeated the Japanese without nukes then (and now, for that matter, only more so).

[roadcat]

Japan could strike a deal—China gets Taiwan—Japan, those Russian Islands.

That won't happen, no such deal. Taiwan used to be a territory of Japan, and Japan would fight hard to keep the communist China from taking it. Japan should get the Kuril Islands back, which never belonged to Russia and belonged to Japan by treaty with Russia. And Japan should forge an even closer alliance with Taiwan via military cooperation.

[AdmSmith]

The Russian military said Friday it has started a military exercise involving more than 3,000 troops on a chain of islands including those disputed with Japan, Russian news agency Interfax reported.

It is the first drill on the disputed islands off Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido since Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced earlier this week it will suspend territorial talks with Japan. Russia is withdrawing from the talks over Tokyo’s sanctions against Moscow in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/03/c0868f95954a-russia-starts-military-drill-on-disputed-islands-off-japan.html