- Moscow Calls Tokyo’s Statements “Unacceptable,” Rejects Any Challenge to Russian Sovereignty Over Southern Kuril Islands
MOSCOW: Russia has strongly rejected recent statements by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi concerning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iturup Island, describing Tokyo’s remarks as “deeply outrageous,” politically unacceptable and legally unfounded.
In a statement circulated on August 13, Moscow said Japanese officials had no grounds to question or dictate where the Russian head of state could travel within Russia’s internationally recognized territory.
“Senior Japanese officials have gone so far as to lecture Moscow on which regions of its own country its Head of State may or may not visit,” the statement said, categorically dismissing the remarks as politically irrelevant, insulting and “legally null and void.”
Moscow Accuses Tokyo of Pursuing Hostile Policy
The Russian side described the latest statements from Japan’s leadership as another indication of what it called Tokyo’s “short-sighted” policy toward Moscow, warning that Japan’s approach was increasingly approaching outright hostility.
Moscow criticized Japan for joining Western sanctions against Russia and for providing political, military and technical support to Ukraine. According to the Russian statement, such policies were undermining the foundations of Russia-Japan relations that had been developed over several decades.
“Official Tokyo,” the statement argued, “is effectively destroying Russia-Japan relations at their very foundations” through its alignment with what Moscow described as the anti-Russian policies of the “collective West.”
Russia Rejects Japanese Claims on International Law
Moscow also rejected what it characterized as Japan’s attempts to invoke international law in challenging Russia’s position on the southern Kuril Islands.
The Russian statement maintained that Tokyo, by participating in Western sanctions and other measures against Russia, was in no position to lecture Moscow on international law or the future of bilateral relations.
Russia further argued that Japan’s current policy did not serve the interests of the Japanese people, despite Tokyo’s references to public sentiment in shaping its position toward Moscow.
Moscow Reaffirms Sovereignty Over Southern Kurils
Addressing the territorial issue directly, Russia reiterated its position that the southern Kuril Islands became part of the Soviet Union following World War II in accordance with agreements among the Allied Powers and the principles of the UN Charter.
Moscow stressed that Russia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the islands are not subject to question.
Moscow Warns Against What It Calls “Revanchist” Narratives
The Russian statement also expressed particular concern over what it described as “revanchism” in recent Japanese political statements, warning that such rhetoric could have wider implications for stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Moscow recalled Japan’s signing of the Instrument of Surrender in September 1945 and accused elements within Japan’s political leadership of promoting what it called revisionist narratives concerning the country’s wartime history and its territorial claims against Russia.
Russia argued that such an approach was inconsistent with broader regional efforts to promote peace, security and cooperation.
“Such a short-sighted policy,” Moscow said, risks undermining regional stability and could ultimately create serious security challenges for the people of Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
BY: The Times Union
