Recent state of the
Japanese-Russian relations focusing on the
dispute over “Northern Territories”
or “Southern Kurils”
Ø Outline
Chapter.1 Origins
of the dispute, Brief History
Chapter.2
Dispute dimensions; Political, Economic, Psychological, and Cultural
Chapter.3 Impact
on bilateral economic relations
Chapter.4 Overview
of dispute solutions
Chapter.5 Future
prospects of Japanese-Russian relations
Chapter.1 Origins of the dispute, Brief
History
First of all I would like to discuss the
basic information of the “Northern Territories” of Japan or “Southern Kurils”
of Russia. The Northern Territories is four islands composed of Etorofu, Kunashiri,
Shikotan and from Habomai isles. They located in the north side off Hokkaido
island of Japan. There are residents in these islands, except Habomai isles,
and the total population of the three islands is approximately 1,5000, which is
citizenship of Russian.
[The size and population of islands]
Etorofu
: 3,184.0㎢ / 8,300
Kunashiri : 1,498.8㎢ / 3,900
Shikotan
: 250.2㎢ / 2,300
Habomai
*Source: “Wareware no hopporyodo”
Our north Islands
「我々の北方領土」
Bilateral diplomatic relations began in the Edo period. However, the “Northern Territorial” dispute began after the WWⅡ. According to the “Our north Islands”( Wareware no hopporyodo”「我々の北方領土」) issued by MOFA in 2011, Before WWⅡ, in 1644, Matsumae prefecture of Japan govern the Kunashiri and Etorofu, and made a map of these islands as Japanese territories. In 1855, the Edo era in Japan, Japan and Russia made a treaty, and, at that time, Russian Ambassador Vladimir Putin treated Etorofu as a territory of Japan. After that, in 1875, the Sakhalin Kuril exchange treaty was signed between Japan and Russia. In this treaty, Kuril Islands are composed of Etorofu, Kunashiri, from Shikotan and Habomai. In this time, they became the territory of Japan officially.
Bilateral diplomatic relations began in the Edo period. However, the “Northern Territorial” dispute began after the WWⅡ. According to the “Our north Islands”( Wareware no hopporyodo”「我々の北方領土」) issued by MOFA in 2011, Before WWⅡ, in 1644, Matsumae prefecture of Japan govern the Kunashiri and Etorofu, and made a map of these islands as Japanese territories. In 1855, the Edo era in Japan, Japan and Russia made a treaty, and, at that time, Russian Ambassador Vladimir Putin treated Etorofu as a territory of Japan. After that, in 1875, the Sakhalin Kuril exchange treaty was signed between Japan and Russia. In this treaty, Kuril Islands are composed of Etorofu, Kunashiri, from Shikotan and Habomai. In this time, they became the territory of Japan officially.
However, after WWⅡ, in the Yalta Conference, “An
Declaration” have been issued. In the declaration, Japan has to return the
territories which Japan has plundered in the WWⅠ, the islands in the Pacific Ocean, Manchuria, Taiwan, Penghu
island, Korean Peninsula and all other regions which Japan plundered by
violence and greed.” The Kuril Islands have been
“returned” to Russia because of this declaration in the Yalta Conference.
However, as I mentioned in this document, Japan didn’t plunder these islands
“by violence and greed”. Territory rights of the Kuril Islands are defined in
the Sakhalin Kuril exchange treaty in 1875. These are the stories of Japanese
side.
On the other hand, According
to the Ministry of foreign affairs of Russia, in press release on the issue of
Southern Kuril Islands which released on 25-06-2012, it describe bellow, “Due to the statements of Japanese officials
published by mass media that possible visits of representatives of Russian
government to the Southern Kuril Islands would contradict to the position of
Tokyo in the so-called “territorial issue,” the following should be mentioned.
The Southern Kuril Islands are an integral part of the Russian Federation. The
comments from abroad regarding the transportation of the Russian government in
the territory of their own country are at least inappropriate.” At the side of Russia, The Southern Kuril Islands are definitely
part of Russia, and this is all. In this way, this problem is antagonistic.
Chapter.2 Dispute dimensions;
Political, Economic, Psychological, and Cultural
This paper will discuss the following 3
dimension of the dispute Political, Economic, Psychological, and Cultural.
First,
politically, it can’t be said that the Japanese-Russian relationship has been
good. The main cause is complex and that has been dividing the two countries
for more than 60 years and peace treaty hasn’t been agreed.
One of the reasons why the bilateral problem
hasn’t solved or the relation hasn’t been more better is Japanese political
problem. The instability of the Japanese government prevents to resolve diplomacy
problem. in this decade, the Prime Minister of Japan has been changed 8 times.
The change of the Prime Minister means the change of cabinet and, of course, it
means the change Minister of Foreign Affairs. Since their Stance on issues
Japan-Russia relations and the priority of policy are different for the cabinet
at that time, the discussion on foreign affairs don’t develop. Recently, this
trend has appeared vividly. On November, 2012 Japanese former Prime Minister
Yoshihiko Noda has postponed a visit to Russia planned for next month citing
President Vladimir Putin's health problems, Kyodo and Jiji news, Japanese media
reported. According to this article, in the meeting, it planed to be discussed
about the official energy cooperation and a decades-old dispute over islands
north of Hokkaido, known as Kurile in Russia and referred to as the Northern
Territories in Japan. As we can be seen in such attitude of Russia, the instability
of the Japanese government is absolutely problem and one of the reason which prevent
to solve the problem and friendship between the two countries.
On the other hands, there is also an attempt
to solve these Japanese political problems. That is the diplomacy by former
Prime Minister Mori. In 2001 the then Prime Minister, Mr. Mori signed a
statement of Irkutsk with Mr Putin, confirming the validity of the Japan-Soviet
Joint Declaration was stated Habomai, the return of two islands Shikotan. Former
Prime Minister Mori that is influential in diplomacy with Russia, was appointed
special envoy to Russia last year. Japanese media have reported the news with a
sense of anticipation.
Second, economically, there are no major
problems between the two countries at present. Rather, we are currently trying
to build a cooperative relationship. The other day, President Putin said, ”I intend to exchange opinions on the
possibility of cooperation between Japan and Russia on a wide range of issues, such
as cooperation in the Far East and Siberia, energy and energy conservation”,
reported in Japan Times by Kyodo,
Japan. And the Gemba, former Minister of Foreign Affairs said, at the press
conference, ”Though the trade volume of Russia
and Japan was $ 30.7 billion which is the highest records last year, it is not
enough judging from the economic potential force. We want to make much more
success cases of cooperation, and raise the reliability of Japanese companies
in the Russian market.”
As both countries said such positive
speech, Japan and Russia are also so positive to cooperate on the economic
aspect. As it shows, On November 20, the
10th Meeting of the Japan-Russia Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and
Economic Issues was held at Iikura Guesthouse for approximately two and a
half hours. Subsequently, a signing ceremony, a joint press conference, and a
dinner were held. In this way, the stance of Russia-Japanese
economic cooperation is positive, and it is a bright prospect.
For the advantages
of to be an economic partner, I would like to discuss them at the 3rd
chapter.
The third dimension of dispute is psychological,
and Cultural situation. In this part, I would like to discuss about the
psychological, and Cultural situation about the problem of “Northern
Territories” or “Southern Kurils” in the each countries.
In a present, the problem consciousness on
the “Northern Territories” or the “Southern Kurils” isn’t different so much.
The number of the people who are interested in this bilateral problem isn’t
high in each country.
Rather, public awareness of both countries is positive each other.
Rather, public awareness of both countries is positive each other.
Chapter.3 Impact on bilateral economic
relations
As I mention even in before chapter ahead,
in this chapter, I would like to discuss about the economical cooperation of
Russia-Japan, and its relation with territorial dispute.
In recent years, there has been deepening of
Japan-Russia relations on the economic. I have mentioned in the previous
chapter, Russia and Japan have discussed the Japan-Russia Intergovernmental
Committee on Trade and Economic Issues at the meeting. It is also one of the
tendencies to be established following organization in 2007. Russian-Japanese
Business Council (РОССИЙСКО-ЯПОНСКИЙ ДЕЛОВОЙ СОВЕТ: http://www.rus-jpn.com/about_us/index.html
) which was built by the Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Council was built in order to activate the business of the Russia and
Japan. For instance, the council has three purposes. First one is to grant the
environment healthy and innovative capital investment environment for Japanese
companies operating in Russia or for Russian companies operating in Japan.
Second one is development of new partnerships with Japan, in particular, the
development of the relationship between Russian local government and business and
Japanese local government and business. And third one is to develop the infrastructure
which makes an unique interaction of all business, including small and medium
enterprises. In this way, Japan and Russia with each other are very aggressive
for economic cooperation.
Next I would like to look at concrete
figures about economic growth. According to the
date of MFA of Japan, in 2009, total trade was $ 12.1 billion. However, in
2011,it grew to $ 30.7 billion. In the past three years, imports and exports of
Japan and Russia have both grown to about three times.
As the contents of
trade, food-related, of course, imports of raw materials such as iron and steel
has been increasing. In Japan Expo 2012 held in Moscow last
year, 68 Japanese companies also exhibited things. According to the mechanism
of the Russo-Japanese trade and investment promotion, it is expected that the
trade rete of resources and energy relations will rise even more in the future.
Chapter.4 Overview of dispute solutions
It is crucial for both Japan and Russia to
solve their understanding territorial dispute and other problems as soon as
possible.
However, in terms of territorial issues, there
are several choices towards resolution. To integrate the content that I have
research and discussed so far in this document, the resolutions are classified
into the following three types.
First one is the
plan to return all the four northern islands to Japan. Second one is to propos
that the territory of the Russian island two islands to Japan two of the four
islands as those of Russia. And the third plan is to conclude a peace treaty as
the four northern islands are belongs to Russian territory
The
first plan isn’t a very realistic proposal. As a reason for the treaty in the
past, Japan slide into negotiations so as to return in force posture certainly
is possible. If the four northern islands be returned if the fishery resources
around the Northern Territory is blessed with those of Japan.
It is also likely
to be discovered natural resources has not been yet found.
However, this plan
is ideal too, negotiations so far as was the case, it would be difficult to
advance the discussion.
A second proposal would be highly feasible
plan compared to the first one.
I was also
mentioned in the previous chapter, there is also a statement of Irkutsk in
2001, it would be easy to draft negotiating under Mr.Mori, a specially
appointed ambassador.
The third proposal is highly feasible
current situation. This means that Japan give up the negotiation of the four
northern islands, and, signed a peace treaty with Russia. And, Government will
focus on economic cooperation with Russia as soon as possible. It is one of the
rational choice for Japan and Russia.
Even if Japan will take any choice, I want
to emphasize that the most important things is next three points. These are
“The cooperation on economic”, “Not to do stick to the return as nation”, and
making steady progress in the discussion continuously and sustainably.
Chapter.5 Future prospects of
Japanese-Russian relations
Finally, I would like to discuss about the
future prospects of Japanese-Russian relations. As I have mentioned so far,
now, the economic activity in Japan and Russia is very active and great
prospect. I think that in order to realize the great prospect, it is so
important how both nation’s supports the economic activity by their diplomacy.
Ø Bibliography
I.
Official sources
1)『我々の北方領土』MOFA 2011（『Warewareno Hoppouryodo』
「our north islands」
2)
Home page of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
-Main page
-Announcement of
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2012/11/1120_06.html
3)
Home page of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
-Main page
http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/main_eng
II.
Book sources
1)
佐藤優(Satou Suguru) 著
『国家の罠 -外務省のラスプーチンと呼ばれて-』Tokyo
新潮社 (2005/3/26)
（『Kokka no Wana –Gaimusyo no Rasputin to yobarete-』）
「Trap of the nation- Rasputin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs -」
2) 下斗米伸夫(Shimotomai Nobuo) 著
『北方領土Q&A80』 Tokyo小学館 (1999/12)
(『Hopporyodo Q&A80』)
「Q & A of “Northern Territories”」
3) 木村汎(Hiroshi Kimura)著 / Translated by Mark Ealey
『The Kurillian Knot』 Stanford University
Press 2008
4) Gilbert Rozman
『Japan and Russia: The Tortuous Path to Normalization, 1949-1999』
Palgrave Macmillan (2000/5/5)
III.
Media sources
1) “Japan, Russia to Work on Ties”,
September 6,2012
The Wall Street Journal
2) “Russia, Japan back LNG; could delay export
pipelines”
Yahoo News |Katya Golubkova and Denis Pinchuk | Sep 8, 2012
3) “Japan PM postpones Russia trip due to
Putin’s health problems-media”
Reuters |Tokyo, Nov 30 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/30/us-japan-russia-idUSBRE8AT0BP20121130
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