“Russia should ignore latest Japanese Kuril Islands claim”
Published: 11 June, 2009, 19:34
Russia mustn’t react to Japan’s House of Representatives’ bill calling four Russian Kuril islands an “integral part” of Japan, says Natalia Stapran from Moscow State University of International Relations.
The bill, which stipulates that Japan “[makes] the utmost efforts to realize the early return of the Islands”, is just a ploy by the Japanese Prime Minister ahead of the election in the face of the weakening position of the ruling Liberal democratic party.
The Kuril Islands became a part of Russia according to agreements signed after the World War II and since then have been a stumbling block in relations between the two countries.
11.06.2009, 19:28
16 comments
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Russia stole those islands from Japan taking advantage of chaotic situation at the end of WW2. They also raped Japanese women in Manchuria. Russians are bandits and burglers. Do you think Japanese people love them?
"Russia should ignore latest Japanese Kuril Island Claim": First, this "latest" claim is about 60 years old -- reaction to Russia's land grabs is not something new. And secondly, when has Russia ever done anything other than ignored the claims of peoples and territories it has occupied? Russia's stance reminds me of an old story I heard about how they catch a certain kind of bird in Africa. They put a box of grain out with a very small hole in it, which a bird can put it's leg through to grab the grain, but then cannot extract it again with the toes clenched. And so it just stays there, trapped by its own greed. Don't know if that story is true -- but the Russian equivalent certainly is. Just think of the huge economic gains Russia would enjoy if it had normal trading and political relations with Japan today. But no, it must hang on to a few rocky ocean outcrops at all costs.
Now, Japan has better position regarding to the talk about the territorial dispute. At the end of the day, Russia needs technology to develop the nation. Now, the only income for Russia is exporting the row material; this means that if the world choose the technology which Japan now developed, Russia is not able to manage its current power in the global economy. Electric car, for example, requires the rare metal which is produced mostly by China and this is very much make sence sooner or later China to choose electric vehicle. Then, of cause the world to choose electric car since the biggest market for next decade with be in China. In order to generate the electricity, Nucler power plant, solar power plant, etc... all the technology is possessed by Japanese and this is the reason why Russia wanted to joint venture in the nuclear issue. So, at this moment, who need who?? It is not Japan needs Russia but Russia needs Japan. Also, seems like some Korean giving comment on this issue. Under the current power balance, sorry to say but Korea is nothing for Russia, China, and Japan.