Russia warns of countermeasures over planned US-Japan-Australia joint drills

A view of the Kuril Islands. [TASS]
A view of the Kuril Islands. [TASS]

Russia and Japan traded public accusations over who bears responsibility for the deterioration of their bilateral ties, amid rising tensions triggered by Vladimir Putin's visit to the disputed Kuril Islands.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday (local time) in Kyrgyzstan, where he was attending a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, Putin said the current state of relations was "entirely Japan's fault," according to Kyodo News.

Putin said Russia had not taken any actions to worsen ties with Japan and had responded with considerable restraint. He went on to say that Russia "was prepared to discuss, in some form, issues related to the conclusion of a peace treaty, including the question of the four Kuril Islands."

On Japan's strong objection to his visit to the islands, Putin said he was "surprised by their overall attitude toward Russia."

The four Kuril Islands are the subject of a territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. The Soviet Union, Russia's predecessor, seized the islands in the final days of World War II in 1945, and Russia has maintained effective control over them ever since.

Tensions between the two countries had been running high since Putin made a surprise visit to Iturup — known in Japan as Etorofu — one of the four islands, on Aug. 13.

Japan's government immediately pushed back against Putin's remarks, calling them unacceptable.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, the government's spokesperson, told reporters Wednesday that "the current grave state of Japan-Russia relations stems from Russia's aggression against Ukraine," adding that "remarks suggesting Japan bears responsibility are unacceptable."

He said, however, that "since Russia is our neighbor, it is important to manage the bilateral relationship appropriately," and that Japan would "continue to respond appropriately from the perspective of Japan's national interests."

Russia had also issued a warning Tuesday over Japan's plans to conduct joint military exercises with US and Australian forces in Hokkaido and other locations this month.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a press conference in Vladivostok on Tuesday that Moscow had conveyed its concerns to the Japanese Embassy in Russia on Monday and had "strongly indicated that it would never tolerate provocative military activities near Russia's borders," according to NHK.

She warned that Russia "would take appropriate countermeasures to maintain national security at an adequate level."

Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, lies adjacent to Russia and borders the four Kuril Islands.

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force plans to conduct the joint exercise "Orient Shield" with US and Australian forces from Saturday through Sept. 24, spanning locations across Japan from Hokkaido in the north to Kagoshima in the south.

In response to Zakharova's statement, the Japanese Embassy in Russia said it had "appropriately explained Japan's position to Russia" and would "continue to communicate with Russia on various issues between the two countries."


mokiya@heraldcorp.com