MESSAGE TO JAPAN<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe territorial dispute over the Southern Kuril Islands remains one of the biggest sticking points in Russia-Japan relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The long-running dispute has prevented Moscow and Tokyo from signing a post-World War II peace treaty. Japan\u2019s sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine crisis have brought bilateral negotiations over the islands to a halt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While attending drills in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Putin recalled that Russia once maintained constructive engagement with Japanese leaders, including former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, before Tokyo changed its policy toward Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under Abe\u2019s administration, the two sides set aside territorial frictions to advance trade and economic cooperation, and Abe attended multiple sessions of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In its newly published Defense White Paper, Japan has classified Russia as a major threat for the first time, although \u201cwe do not pose a threat to Japan. We have absolutely no claims against it,\u201d said Putin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Japan continues to press territorial claims over the Southern Kuril Islands, he said, noting that the current status of the Kuril Islands \u201cis enshrined in international documents as a reality that arose following the outcome of World War II.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut even here, Russia was prepared to seek a solution with the goal of concluding a peace treaty with Japan,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Analysts say Putin\u2019s visit and remarks strike a balance between firm messaging toward Japan and a degree of tactical openness. Moscow appears keen to keep dialogue channels open, while seeking Japanese concessions on sanctions and a possible resumption of economic cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
JAPAN\u2019S REACTION<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn a press conference on Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi \u201cstrongly protested\u201d Putin\u2019s visit to the disputed island, which she said is \u201cabsolutely unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Putin\u2019s visit \u201cis incompatible with the Government of Japan\u2019s consistent position on the Northern Territories,\u201d said Takaichi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis visit has further hardened public sentiment toward Russia in Japan and made it more difficult to restore Japan-Russia relations over the medium to long term,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the same day, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned the Russian ambassador to Tokyo to lodge a formal protest over Putin\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Japanese government plans to consider countermeasures against Putin\u2019s visit, Japan\u2019s public broadcaster NHK reported early Friday, adding that one possible measure is strengthening existing sanctions that Tokyo has already imposed on Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NO EASY RESET IN SIGHT<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nRussia-Japan ties have undergone steep deterioration since 2022. Japan imposed sweeping sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, with direct air links severed, and bilateral trade and investment contracted sharply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moscow has protested over Japan\u2019s provision of economic assistance and geospatial intelligence to Kiev, its support for using frozen Russian sovereign assets held by Western states to aid Ukraine, and cooperation with Ukraine in drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2022, it suspended peace treaty talks with Japan \u201cbecause it is impossible to discuss this fundamental document on bilateral relations with a state that holds an explicitly unfriendly position and seeks to harm the interests of our country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also suspended visa-free travel for former Japanese residents of the Southern Kuril Islands to the places of their former residency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since taking office, the Takaichi administration\u2019s push for greater remilitarisation has raised Russia\u2019s security concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In late July, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko argued that the belligerent stance of the Japanese authorities negatively affects stability in the Asia-Pacific region and directly undermines the security interests of neighboring countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regarding Russia-Japan relations, the diplomat said that only if Japan takes concrete steps to abandon its anti-Russian stance can the two countries resume dialogue and cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Analysts say the prospects for a breakthrough in Russia-Japan relations remain slim. Neither side appears to have much room for compromise on the territorial dispute, while Japan\u2019s alignment with the West over the Ukraine crisis makes a significant easing of sanctions against Russia unlikely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
teleSUR\/ JF<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nSource: Xinhua<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nSource: teleSUR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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