Japan protests against Putin visit to disputed islands

Japan expressed strong protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the Kuril islands on Thursday. This marked the first time Putin had set foot on the disputed island chain. According to Russian state media, Putin toured Iturup, also known as Etorofu, one of four islands in the Kuril chain claimed by both Russia and Japan.

Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi asserted that these islands are inherently part of Japan, both historically and under international law, and that the Japanese government strongly condemns this visit. The Kuril islands, situated between Hokkaido in northern Japan and Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, have been a source of contention between the two nations for decades, preventing a peace treaty from being signed after World War Two.

The islands, with four southernmost ones claimed by Japan, are currently administered by Russia. Following World War Two, the Soviet Union annexed the island chain and expelled around 17,000 Japanese inhabitants. During his visit, Putin tasted fish roe and conversed with locals, as reported by Russian state media. Over time, efforts to settle the territorial dispute have yielded minimal progress.

Relations between Japan and Russia have remained tense, with Japan imposing sanctions on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Japan has also protested prior visits by Russian officials to the islands, including Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and his predecessor Dmitry Medvedev. Strategically significant for Russia, the Kuril islands have seen an increase in military presence from Russia over the past decade.

Iturup, in particular, serves as the primary military air base for Russia in the region. Last month, Chinese and Russian naval vessels navigated a strait between the islands during a joint patrol. Additionally, Russia conducts regular military exercises near the islands, which Japan views with disapproval.