Democrats · Japan · Nation Thailand
Japan mulling measures against Putin's visit to disputed island
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Options include further strengthening economic sanctions on Russia and temporarily recalling Japan's ambassador to the nation. A careful decision will be needed, however, as Japan relies on Russia for some 10 pct of its liquefied natural gas imports. Senior officials of Japan's Foreign Ministry held discussions on and off Friday. "We are discussing how to respond," one of them told reporters.
Key facts
- In 2010, then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Kunashiri, another island in the disputed chain, prompting the Japanese administration led by the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan at the time to recall the then Japanese
- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi immediately criticised the visit, telling reporters that it is "incompatible with Japan's consistent position and is absolutely unacceptable."
- Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev to the Foreign Ministry and lodged a strong protest
- The islands were seized by the former Soviet Union from Japan at the end of World War II and have long been claimed by Japan
- After Russia started to invade Ukraine in February 2022, Japan imposed sanctions, such as freezing assets held by Russian individuals and organisations in Japan and banning exports of dual-use items to Russia
- BICT Fest 2026 set to bring global children’s theatre back to Bangkok this month
Summary
Options include further strengthening economic sanctions on Russia and temporarily recalling Japan's ambassador to the nation. A careful decision will be needed, however, as Japan relies on Russia for some 10 pct of its liquefied natural gas imports. Senior officials of Japan's Foreign Ministry held discussions on and off Friday. "We are discussing how to respond," one of them told reporters.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi immediately criticised the visit, telling reporters that it is "incompatible with Japan's consistent position and is absolutely unacceptable." Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev to the Foreign Ministry and lodged a strong protest. The islands were seized by the former Soviet Union from Japan at the end of World War II and have long been claimed by Japan.