The long-simmering dispute between Russia and Japan over the Kuril Islands in the North Pacific flared up on Monday when President Dmitry Medvedev became the first Russian president to visit the territory. In response, Japan promptly called in Russia’s ambassador to protest the move.
The dispute over the islands has gone unresolved since the end of World War II. At that time, Japan lost the four-island chain off of the eastern side of Hokkaido, which it calls the Northern territories. The islands include Habomai, Shikotan, Etorofu, and Kunashir, all of which are known for their rich fishing grounds.
The Soviet Union annexed the islands after a ceasefire. About 17,000 Japanese were expelled from the islands soon after.
Under the San Francisco Treaty signed in 1951, Japan gave up all rights to the islands, but the treaty did not specify that the territories would belong to the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union never signed the Treaty. In 1956, the two counties established normal diplomatic relations and signed a Joint Declaration agreeing to work toward reaching a final peace agreement, which has yet to be signed.
Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara told the Russian ambassador that the visit, “totally conflicts with Japan’s basic stance and hurt the sentiments of our nation and the Japanese people. It was deplorable,” reported Russian business magazine BSR.
“We have been consistent in stating that the four (Russian-held) islands ... are a part of our country’s sovereign territory,” Kan said. “It is extremely regrettable that the president went to this region,” PM Kan told a Diet committee, according to The Japan Times.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded that Tokyo by calling Japan’s attempts to dictate whether Russian officials could go on their territories was “unacceptable.”
Medvedev has become the first president to visit the disputed islands, particularly Kunashir. According to Medvedev’s press service, he met local residents and visited constructions sites and fish farms.
“We are interested in letting people remain here. It is important that this area be developed, and we certainly will invest money here,” Russian media reported the president as saying.
There are no developed tourist destinations on the islands. The weather is cold and most people who live there are involved in the fishing industry or military border patrol.
Japan has recently been engaged in several quarrels over islands in the Asian-Pacific region.
In September, a Chinese fishing boat collided with two Japanese patrol vessels near the disputed Diaoyu Islands chain in the East China Sea. Japanese officials arrested the boat captain, then later released him under pressure, sparking a still unresolved row with Beijing.
Japan and South Korea are still in a territorial dispute over the ownership of the small islets called Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese; they are currently administrated by South Korea.
The dispute over the islands has gone unresolved since the end of World War II. At that time, Japan lost the four-island chain off of the eastern side of Hokkaido, which it calls the Northern territories. The islands include Habomai, Shikotan, Etorofu, and Kunashir, all of which are known for their rich fishing grounds.
The Soviet Union annexed the islands after a ceasefire. About 17,000 Japanese were expelled from the islands soon after.
Under the San Francisco Treaty signed in 1951, Japan gave up all rights to the islands, but the treaty did not specify that the territories would belong to the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union never signed the Treaty. In 1956, the two counties established normal diplomatic relations and signed a Joint Declaration agreeing to work toward reaching a final peace agreement, which has yet to be signed.
Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara told the Russian ambassador that the visit, “totally conflicts with Japan’s basic stance and hurt the sentiments of our nation and the Japanese people. It was deplorable,” reported Russian business magazine BSR.
“We have been consistent in stating that the four (Russian-held) islands ... are a part of our country’s sovereign territory,” Kan said. “It is extremely regrettable that the president went to this region,” PM Kan told a Diet committee, according to The Japan Times.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded that Tokyo by calling Japan’s attempts to dictate whether Russian officials could go on their territories was “unacceptable.”
Medvedev has become the first president to visit the disputed islands, particularly Kunashir. According to Medvedev’s press service, he met local residents and visited constructions sites and fish farms.
“We are interested in letting people remain here. It is important that this area be developed, and we certainly will invest money here,” Russian media reported the president as saying.
There are no developed tourist destinations on the islands. The weather is cold and most people who live there are involved in the fishing industry or military border patrol.
Japan has recently been engaged in several quarrels over islands in the Asian-Pacific region.
In September, a Chinese fishing boat collided with two Japanese patrol vessels near the disputed Diaoyu Islands chain in the East China Sea. Japanese officials arrested the boat captain, then later released him under pressure, sparking a still unresolved row with Beijing.
Japan and South Korea are still in a territorial dispute over the ownership of the small islets called Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese; they are currently administrated by South Korea.
