Russia Pressures Takaichi

Russia keeps on pressuring Sanae Takaichi administration of Japan. Following a rare visit to an island of Northern Territory of Japan by the president, Russian military made an exercise of launching missiles from the island. It is possible that Russia is examining how Takaichi responds to the provocations. Takaichi has been made no intensive countermeasure toward Russia. 

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, made his first visit to Etorofu, the biggest island in Japan’s Northern Territory, on August 13th. The timing must have carefully been considered. August is the season for the Japanese to remember devastation of the World War II, especially on 6th of atomic bombing on Hiroshima, 9th of another on Nagasaki and 15thof unconditional surrender. Putin’s visit had an impact to impress Japan that the island was included in Russia as a result of the war.

 

Takaichi firmly protested Putin’s visit to Etorofu. “It hurts the public sentiment of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable,” said Takaichi. It must be what Putin wanted to hear from Takaichi. The visit was made two days before August 15th. Takaichi has long been a proponent of Japanese prime minister’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine on August 15th. It is possible that Putin’s message to Takaichi was not to hurt public sentiment of the Chinese by visiting Yasukuni Shrine on August 15th.

 

Russian government immediately responded to Takaichi’s comment on Putin’s visit. Spokeswoman of Russian foreign ministry, Maria Zakharova, rejected Takaichi’s statement as “politically irrelevant, offensive and, of course, legally null and void.” Zakharova insisted that “Iturup” was legally an integral part of Russia, like all the Kuril Islands. Russians call Etorofu Island “Iturup” with accent close to Ainu language.

 

Russia’s response may remind the Japanese of the time when former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, visited Kunashiri Island in 2010. Then Japanese prime minister, Naoto Kan, accused Medvedev’s visit to Kunashiri as “unforgivable outrage.” However, Kan meanwhile faced domestic criticisms that the prime minister had not made sufficient diplomatic effort toward Russia. Zakharova’s comment can be aimed at arousing domestic skepticisms against Takaichi.

 

About a week after Putin’s visit, Russian Pacific Fleet made a drill of launching missiles in an area close to the Northern Territory. The drill included nuclear-powered submarine, guided cruise missiles and anti-ship missile system named “Bastion”. Russia has deployed Bastion in Etorofu Island and surface-to-ship missile system called “Bal” in Kunashiri Island. The series of Russia’s demonstration for claiming ownership of Kuril Islands in August reminds of Soviet Union’s advance to the islands from north to south in August 1945.

 

Takaichi has not shown any strong response to Russia after her comment on Putin’s visit. She does not have her own diplomatic channel toward Russia to deal with current actions in the Northern Territory. Bilateral relations with Russia have not been improved since Russian invasion in Ukraine. The leader of Democratic Party for the People, Yuichiro Tamaki, blamed Takaichi as too weak.

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