On Thursday, Japanese officials reacted to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to disputed islands between the two nations.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi expressed strong objections to Putin’s trip to Iturup, noting that it was the first he had heard of it. He emphasized that the Northern Territories, including these islands, rightfully belong to Japan “both historically and under international law.”
Iturup, or Etorofu Island as known in Japan, is part of the Kuril Islands, situated around 140 miles from Hokkaido. Japan and Russia both stake claims to four islands that lie between them.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mentioned that the Japanese government had requested Putin refrain from visiting disputed areas, particularly since he indicated he might go there in 2024. Yet, she also stated that she only learned about his visit during his trip.
Takaichi referred to historical context and international law to reinforce Japan’s claim over Iturup, asserting that Putin’s visit “contradicts Japan’s established stance on the Northern Territories.” She added that it is painful for the Japanese people and deemed completely unacceptable, urging the Russian side to consider the seriousness of the matter.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that tensions between Japan and Russia have been heightened since Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, and such visits only complicate efforts to mend relations, even with Japan’s attempts to mitigate anti-Russian sentiment domestically.
Michito Tsuruoka, a Keio University professor in Tokyo, commented that the visit indicates Russia’s lack of interest in improving ties with Japan, as reported by The New York Times.
Putin conducted a televised tour of a seafood processing factory on the island following a review of Pacific Fleet exercises on a nearby cruiser, as per Russian state media.
Russia maintains that these northern territories were seized after Japan’s defeat in World War II and has established military bases on the islands, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
This island was historically inhabited by the Ainu people until the arrival of Russian trappers in the 18th and 19th centuries, followed by Japanese merchants and samurai who set up seasonal fishing areas in the south.
Japan would formally include the archipelago in an agreement with Russia, with tens of thousands of Japanese settling there, leading to the assimilation of the Ainu population. By the end of World War II, the Soviet army had occupied the territory, and nearly all Japanese settlers were expelled, with workers from various Allied nations resettling the islands.
