Recently, Japan identified four islands with disputed ownership between Russia and itself as “illegally occupied” in the latest Diplomatic Bluebook. These islands are referred to as the Kuril Islands by Russia and Northern Territories by Japan. This description of these islands reflects the tense relations between Japan and Russia, further ignited by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Interestingly, Japan is faced with a similar territorial dispute with South Korea over their Northern territories, which the latter refers to as the Dokdo Islands.
The Role of Diplomatic Bluebook
The Diplomatic Bluebook is an annual report published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan concerning its foreign policy and international diplomacy. The first issue was published in September 1957, and it has continued to be released annually ever since.
Geographic Location and Importance of the Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands span from the Japanese island of Hokkaido to Russia’s southernmost point in Kamchatka Peninsula. This separates the Okhotsk Sea from the North Pacific Ocean. Part of the Ring of Fire, the chain houses about 100 volcanoes, with 35 still active, and numerous hot springs.
The Kuril Islands hold significant strategic value for both natural resources and military interests. The surrounding waters are rich in fishing grounds and suspected to contain offshore reserves of oil and gas. Moreover, Russia has installed missile systems on the islands, with plans for a submarine project to prevent any American military usage.
On a cultural note, the islands bear emotional significance, especially to conservatives in Hokkaido, Japan.
History of the Kuril Islands Dispute
The Kuril Islands dispute is centered around the control of the South Kuril Islands, including Etorofu Island, Kunashiri Island, Shikotan Island and the Habomai Island. Despite being claimed by Japan, they are occupied by Russia as the successor state of the Soviet Union.
This dispute finds its roots in the Treaty of Shimoda in 1855, which granted Japan control over the four southernmost islands, while Russia got the rest of the chain. In the following years, several other treaties and agreements interplayed, including the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875) and the Yalta Agreement (1945).
Despite these, the dispute wasn’t resolved and continues to impede the conclusion of a peace treaty ending World War II.
Present Scenario of the Dispute
The dispute remains unresolved, with Japan continuing to claim historical rights over the disputed islands. The country has repeatedly tried to secure their return from Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
In a significant development in 2018, the Russian President and the Japanese Prime Minister decided to resolve the disputed territories, discussing this on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit. However, even with negotiations based on the 1956 declaration, Russia stated that it did not provide a basis for returning Habomai and Shikotan or clarify the sovereignty of the islands.
In response to this, the Japanese PM clarified in 2019 that Japan didn’t intend to give up control over the Islands, reiterating that they were an intrinsic part of Japan. The country’s aim is to sign the long-pending peace treaty after resolving this territorial dispute.