Welcome to Issues in Japan.
I would like to share the article contents of Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun newspaper.
The title is:
Japan Must Tell World Russia is Being Unjust on the Northern Territories
It is time for a new tactic based on joining forces with Western allies to realize the return of Japan’s Northern Territories from Russia’s unlawful control.
With the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine continuing to linger, Japan marked Northern Territories day on February 7.
We want Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as the representative of the Japanese people, to strongly express his determination to get the Northern Territories – which are Japanese lands – returned to Japan.
At the same time, we do not want the Kishida administration to pander to the Putin administration, which is becoming increasingly dismissive of Japan.
Russia’s lawless behavior concerning Ukraine has become the subject of international scrutiny. Japan must align with the West on matters such as sanctions against Russia, and also spread the message across the global community that Russia’s stance on the Northern Territories is unjust.
In recent years, the Putin administration has peddled the falsehood that “the Northern Territories became Russian land due to the outcome of World War II,” even denying the existence of a territorial dispute.
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On Northern Territories Day last year, the Sankei Shimbun stated in an editorial that “surely it is time to pull the plug on trying to negotiate on the Northern Territories with the Putin administration, which continues to make a mockery of Japan.” Our stance on this issue remains the same.
What Japan must do now is join forces with other democracies, and make the Northern Territories issue a global issue.
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Since the autumn of 2021, Russia has deployed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border – and is continuing its military intimidation.
Japan, which has been on the receiving end of a Soviet Union/Russian invasion in the Northern Territories, should express this shared connection with Ukraine, and cooperate with Western nations as they support Ukraine.
Japan should also learn from the knowledge of Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, which have historically undergone hardships at the hands of Russia and its predecessor, the Soviet Union.
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For the detailed information please visit the following:
https://youtu.be/KnkKZFAbYwM
Thank you for your interest.
