Full Speed Ahead: Russia to Accelerate Construction in the Kurils

[Sasquatch]

Moscow’s push to speed up development of the islands is, in part, a jab at Tokyo over Abe’s visit to Ukraine.

Monday, while visiting Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far East, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered an acceleration of military and civilian infrastructure construction on the disputed Kuril Islands. While the defense ministry didn’t offer many details of his orders, it isn’t difficult to connect the announcement–guaranteed to annoy Japan, which disputes Russian sovereignty of the islands–to the recent visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Ukraine. While in Ukraine, Abe declared his support for President Petro Poroshenko.

This isn’t the first time Ukraine has come up as a point of tension between Russia and Japan, nor the first time Moscow has used the islands to irritate Tokyo. Last summer, after Japan joined Western nations in imposing sanctions on Russia, Russia held military drills in the Kurils.

The Kurils, as they are called in Russia, are known as the Northern Territories in Japan and stretch about 810 miles northeast from the island of Hokkaido to Russia’s Kamchatka. To the west of the islands lies the Sea of Okhotsk and to the east, the northern Pacific. The two southernmost islands–Kunashir (known in Japanese as Kunashiri) and Iturup (Etorofu)–and two sets of islets–Shikotan and the Habomai islands–have been the focus of a dispute between Russia and Japan for more than 60 years.

Both Russia and Japan bring treaties to the table to support their claims for sovereignty.

In the 1855 Treaty of Shimoda which established diplomatic relations between the two, Russia outlined the boundary with Japan as lying between Iturup and Urup. The islands south of Iturup were not specifically mentioned. Subsequent treaties, in 1875, 1905, and 1945 all lead to different divisions.

Full Speed Ahead: Russia to Accelerate Construction in the Kurils | The Diplomat

 

[Shotgunner51]

Monday, while visiting Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far East, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered an acceleration of military and civilian infrastructure construction on the disputed Kuril Islands. While the defense ministry didn’t offer many details of his orders, it isn’t difficult to connect the announcement–guaranteed to annoy Japan, which disputes Russian sovereignty of the islands–to the recent visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Ukraine. While in Ukraine, Abe declared his support for President Petro Poroshenko.

This isn’t the first time Ukraine has come up as a point of tension between Russia and Japan, nor the first time Moscow has used the islands to irritate Tokyo. Last summer, after Japan joined Western nations in imposing sanctions on Russia, Russia held military drills in the Kurils.

The Kurils, as they are called in Russia, are known as the Northern Territories in Japan and stretch about 810 miles northeast from the island of Hokkaido to Russia’s Kamchatka. To the west of the islands lies the Sea of Okhotsk and to the east, the northern Pacific. The two southernmost islands–Kunashir (known in Japanese as Kunashiri) and Iturup (Etorofu)–and two sets of islets–Shikotan and the Habomai islands–have been the focus of a dispute between Russia and Japan for more than 60 years.

Both Russia and Japan bring treaties to the table to support their claims for sovereignty.

In the 1855 Treaty of Shimoda which established diplomatic relations between the two, Russia outlined the boundary with Japan as lying between Iturup and Urup. The islands south of Iturup were not specifically mentioned. Subsequent treaties, in 1875, 1905, and 1945 all lead to different divisions.

Full Speed Ahead: Russia to Accelerate Construction in the Kurils | The Diplomat

You rarely post new threads, very nice, gotta support you by commenting on it.

I suppose this is a reactionary response from Putin on Abe's stance on Ukraine, an anticipated knee-jerk action based on previous behavioral patterns. The question is why Abe being a seasoned politician chose to further provoke Putin, at all costs but no gain?

If Abe calculated that his loss are hedged by gains from US, what are they? I am also interested in how the media or critics/analysts in Japan comment on Abe's move.

 

[cnleio]

Simple for Russia, Ukraine's friend is the enemy.

 

[Hyperion]

Now that is a question we need to be asking ourselves.......... prodding Japan there, India here, there are some promises that the US has made to them which we need to understand, else how could these two most impotent nations on the planet been turned to hawks, that too so fast!

If Abe calculated that his loss are hedged by gains from US, what are they?

 

[tsinga]

Now that is a question we need to be asking ourselves.......... prodding Japan there, India here, there are some promises that the US has made to them which we need to understand, else how could these two most impotent nations on the planet been turned to hawks, that too so fast!

Nothing to do with US for us. We have given the shaft to the US on a number of issues as well when it suited our interests.

The only singular thing holding us back was our political leadership - Congress - deeply steeped in Nehruvian and Gandhian ideals and legacy of non-violence, negotiations and reactionism and most importantly - psychologically felt India was weak because of historic mindsets.

There has been a massive culture change between the old generation of Indians and the new ones, which foreign countries could not read because all politics was completely dominated by Congress which was full of all the old leaders. Being 55 was considered being 'young' in Congress.

The new generation of Indians is not influenced by Gandhi or Nehru to even a fraction of the level that Congress is steeped in.


We are a very very large country with a vast military. We accept that and will now use that.
We are pragmatic, aggressive, willing to use violence and prefer to be proactive in foreign and military affairs rather than reactive(which was the norm for India).

The historic elections in which for the first time in Independent India, a non-Congress majority Government has come is a testament to that. With the first time a Prime Minister of India born post-partition.

The new government believes in mission mode objectives and all that I mentioned above for new generation Indians.


You will find even the Congress which now is being forced to take in young blood will be much more aggressive than the Congress of before.

Its India that is maturing and leaving the baggage of the past, US is nothing but a spectator. The world has and will recognize us because we will grow faster than the rest of the world not because we purchase a couple of weapons from US or Russia or France. Because in the end we know, the only one to care about India when the chips are down is India, not any other country.

 

[Beidou2020]

Go Russia.

 

[Spectre]

Ivan doesn't mess around. Whatever you say about Russians you gotta admit they have bigger balls than anyone else

 

[TaiShang]

The second leg of Joint Sea 2015 will be held in the Sea of Japan -- the first leg was conducted in the Mediterranean.

Looks like Russia is finally pivoting to Asia in order to ensure freedom of navigation, peace and liberty there. This is a positive development. Coupled with development efforts in Kurils, Russia might be expected to increase its military footprint in the AP significantly.

Peace-loving countries such as the US should welcome it.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

The second leg of Joint Sea 2015 will be held in the Sea of Japan -- the first leg was conducted in the Mediterranean.

Looks like Russia is finally pivoting to Asia in order to ensure freedom of navigation, peace and liberty there. This is a positive development. Coupled with development efforts in Kurils, Russia might be expected to increase its military footprint in the AP significantly.

Peace-loving countries such as the US should welcome it.

freedom of navigation is the key word and slogan that China should use more oftenly when charting the unwelcome water.

 

[DaiViet]

Seems Japan made bad move on this. They should care about getting kuril back instead of supporting Ukraine and sanction Russia which benefit Japan nothing, that move anger Russia make Russia forging ally with China against Japan. You give up your island and bring threat next to your door for an Ukraine, I dont think current Ukraine government deserve for you do that, the current Ukraine government is dumb they threw their country in chaos without knowing how to manage keeping the country stable after blindly overthrwe their own government.

 

[Aepsilons]

 

[Jlaw]

You rarely post new threads, very nice, gotta support you by commenting on it.

I suppose this is a reactionary response from Putin on Abe's stance on Ukraine, an anticipated knee-jerk action based on previous behavioral patterns. The question is why Abe being a seasoned politician chose to further provoke Putin, at all costs but no gain?

If Abe calculated that his loss are hedged by gains from US, what are they? I am also interested in how the media or critics/analysts in Japan comment on Abe's move.

Abe has no choice. Japan has to follow US international policies. Being a lackey has its advantages and disadvantages.

 

[Echo_419]

Now that is a question we need to be asking ourselves.......... prodding Japan there, India here, there are some promises that the US has made to them which we need to understand, else how could these two most impotent nations on the planet been turned to hawks, that too so fast!

India is a non aligned country think again,also we have led a independent foreign policy more than you or your friends

 

[Beidou2020]

India is a non aligned country think again,also we have led a independent foreign policy more than you or your friends

Non-aligned? since when?

India has never criticised the US for its wars. If anything, India has been a US vassal for a long time. Sure you might have the odd exception, but in general India has always danced to the tune of the Anglo-Saxon world.

India is even abandoning Russia for America.

 

[Echo_419]

Non-aligned? since when?

India has never criticised the US for its wars. If anything, India has been a US vassal for a long time. Sure you might have the odd exception, but in general India has always danced to the tune of the Anglo-Saxon world.

India is even abandoning Russia for America.

Back up your BS with some solid source,India is not China who has consistently favored America over Russia