Unilateral Demonstration of Sovereignty

Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, visited the Island of Etorofu, located northernmost of four disputed islands of Northern Territory of Japan on Saturday. It was interpreted in Japan that Medvedev was demonstrating actual ruling of Russia on those islands and counter against demand of Japan to return the territory. Bilateral relation between Japan and Russia will further be damaged by unilateral behavior of Russia, ignoring consecutive request not to take action in the territory.

It was the third time for Medvedev to visit Northern Territory. As soon as landing on new airport in Etorofu island, Medvedev ordered further development on airport facilities. After visiting fishery processing plants and port facilities, he attended a patriotic meeting called All Russia Juvenile Education Forum. In the meeting, he announced that Russian government would register islands of Etorofu and Kunashiri to special economic area for advanced development.

It was obvious that the visit was to attract conservative movement in Russia. “Although we have good relationship with Japan, it has nothing to do with Kuril Island. Because Kuril is Russian territory, I visited today and will keep on visiting,” told Medvedev to reporters quoting Russian name of Northern Territory.” He also indicated militarization of those islands, demanding troops able to operate modern battle on the islands. On the day, Russian government dismissed Japan’s claiming for Northern Territory as disputing the result of World War II that was broadly conceived.

Government of Japan immediately expressed opposition to Medvedev’s visit to Etorofu. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fumio Kishida, called Russian Ambassador to Japan, Evgeny Afanasiev, to come to his office and told “Etorofu Island is inherited territory of Japan and the visit does not cohere with the standpoint of Japan. It is highly regrettable, harming national sentiment of Japan.” Kishida reportedly cancelled his visit to Russia later this year.

Medvedev’s visit to Etorofu meant a failure of diplomacy of Shinzo Abe. Abe has been taking relatively soft attitude to Russia even after its annexation of Crimea. Russia responded to Abe diplomacy with slapping on face. It is highly unlikely that Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Japan as those two top leaders agreed. It cannot be denied that Abe did not have correct knowledge on the situation of international politics and domestic rise of conservatism in Russia. If he did not recognize it, it has to be a consequence of irrelevancy as a top leader.