Japan fumes as Putin visits disputed Pacific island

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Thursday strongly protested Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visiting the long-disputed Etorofu Island. Motegi cited international law and historic fact in a written statement Thursday condemning Putin’s visit. She characterized the island as an inherent part of Japanese territory. The island in the Sea of Okhotsk is part of an area referred to by Japan as the Northern Territories, by Russia as the Kuril Islands.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also spoke out Thursday against the visit, characterizing Japan’s relationship with Russia as strained since Putin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Japan repeatedly urged Russia to stay away from the territory since Putin first voiced his desire to visit in early 2024, Takaichi said.

Putin’s latest visit violated Japan's position regarding the territories and insulted the Japanese people, which is absolutely unacceptable, she added. Putin’s visit further hardened Japan’s public sentiment toward Russia, and injured the long-term ability to restore bilateral relations, Takaichi said. Japanese leaders summoned the Russian Ambassador to Japan over the visit, and requested that a message be sent to Putin, Motegi said.

Why was Putin visiting the island? His exact purpose for visiting the island remained unclear on Thursday. Russia’s Embassy in Japan released a Thursday statement that its Ambassador N.S. Noidrev was summoned to a meeting at the Japanese Foreign Ministry. The Russian embassy characterized the region as an integral part of legitimate Russian territory incorporated after World War II. Putin’s travels within Russian territory were sovereign decisions that would not be subjected to discussion by foreign states, according to the embassy's statement.

How does Ukraine view the incident? Ukraine’s Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha described Putin’s visit as a disrespectful intimidation tactic to normalize illegal occupation, according to a Thursday statement. Russia will only respond to strength. Its imperial playbook includes intimidation, escalation of tensions, and illegal occupation, he said.