The Kuril Islands` «fog»

[NickSmith]

In the Japanese city of Osaka, where the G-20 summit was held at the end of June 2019, negotiations were held between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

 

At the joint press conference on the results of the bilateral negotiations, the heads of the two states noted that the parties had agreed on another visit to the burial sites of their ancestors for the former Japanese residents of the southern Kuril Islands, which would be held in August or September of this year. Negotiations were continued on the issue of a peace treaty and progress towards joint economic activities in the southern part of the Kuril Islands.

 

The heads of the two states were also presented at the signing of several documents. For example, the Russian-Japanese investment fund decided to invest in the construction of chemical plants in Volgograd city. The project cost is more than 50 billion rubles. And the Japanese consortium acquired a stake in the Arctic LNG-2 project. Japanese investment in the construction of a plant for the production of liquefied natural gas will be about $ 3 billion. In general, the number of Japanese companies operating in the Russian market reached 270, and the trade turnover grew by 17%.

 

In the fall, Japan and Russia will begin joint projects in the field of tourism and trash recycling in the South Kuril Islands.

 

In the Japanese city of Osaka, where the G-20 summit was held at the end of June 2019, negotiations were held between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

 

At the joint press conference on the results of the bilateral negotiations, the heads of the two states noted that the parties had agreed on another visit to the burial sites of their ancestors for the former Japanese residents of the southern Kuril Islands, which would be held in August or September of this year. Negotiations were continued on the issue of a peace treaty and progress towards joint economic activities in the southern part of the Kuril Islands.

 

The heads of the two states were also presented at the signing of several documents. For example, the Russian-Japanese investment fund decided to invest in the construction of chemical plants in Volgograd city. The project cost is more than 50 billion rubles. And the Japanese consortium acquired a stake in the Arctic LNG-2 project. Japanese investment in the construction of a plant for the production of liquefied natural gas will be about $ 3 billion. In general, the number of Japanese companies operating in the Russian market reached 270, and the trade turnover grew by 17%.

 

In the fall, Japan and Russia will begin joint projects in the field of tourism and trash recycling in the South Kuril Islands. 

 

However, neither Putin’s visit to his native Yamaguchi prefecture, nor the attempts to get to the solution of the problem through the development of cooperation on the disputed islands, nor even the oath on his father’s grave have yet come to nothing. Thus, the signing of the peace treaty is still a dream, as ghostly as the outlines of Mount Fuji in the fog. And it seems that until the change of power in Japan, which is expected to happen in 2021, nothing will change. This, apparently, is already understood by Prime Minister Abe himself, who recently managed to lose a fair amount of former enthusiasm.

[sivispacem]

As interesting as this is, I'm failing to see a debate or discussion question?

[NickSmith]

On 7/9/2019 at 12:29 AM, sivispacem said:

As interesting as this is, I'm failing to see a debate or discussion question?

Having written an article, I expected that people would either agree with me or write their own opinion on the topic. I wanted to share my thoughts with ppl. 

[sivispacem]

You've not really provided any opinions or analysis for discussion, though. There's nothing to agree with or dispute, it's just a recitation of events.

[NickSmith]

On 7/11/2019 at 4:52 PM, sivispacem said:

You've not really provided any opinions or analysis for discussion, though. There's nothing to agree with or dispute, it's just a recitation of events.

I think you just don`t know how discussions works.. Or this topic is too hard for you.. Or maybe your knowledge in what is happening in the world is too far from reality. Idk. I`m just interested in the APR region and I do care about the situation in the world 

[sivispacem]

7 hours ago, NickSmith said:

I think you just don`t know how discussions works

I moderated this subforum for multiple years before becoming a mod. I'm fairly sure I know how it works. Perhaps, instead of thinly veiled insults, you could attempt to make a salient point for discussion?

 

There's a reason nobody responded to your last thread, and why I'm the only person who has responded to this one.

[Tchuck]

9 hours ago, NickSmith said:

I`m just interested in the APR region and I do care about the situation in the world 

So what is your opinion on the subject? Instead of just dumping a news article and saying nothing, why not open the debate and present your side? (FYI: this is how things work on this forum. You make your opening post about something and your position on it, and others will debate/challenge you and so on.)

[NickSmith]

19 hours ago, Tchuck said:

So what is your opinion on the subject? Instead of just dumping a news article and saying nothing, why not open the debate and present your side? (FYI: this is how things work on this forum. You make your opening post about something and your position on it, and others will debate/challenge you and so on.)

It`s a pity that you can`t read... I have already written my opinion in a post and even made a conclusion at the end. If you are too lazy to read the entire text, read the conclusion and maybe you will understand what is the matter. But in short, I am sure that the Japanese will never get the Kuril Islands due to the weakness of their government headed by S. Abe and dependence on the United States. It is natural that Putin rejects the transfer of the islands of Japan, because if even a little of the Russian land comes under the jurisdiction of Japan, the US military bases will immediately be located there. This is a huge threat to the security of the Russian Far East and the security of the country in general. Also, the straits of the Sea of Okhotsk are also an important object for all shipping in Russia. In addition, the Japanese in 1956, having signed the Joint Declaration with the USSR, themselves abandoned their rights to the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island. These islands are the territory of Russia and that`s all. Putin agreed to discuss this territorial issue, but only in the case of the signing of a peace treaty between the two countries and guarantees that the US bases will not be placed there. But the Japanese do not want to do either and continue to squeak for the islands.

[Svip]

OK.  I guess that's it then.  A general topic about Asian geopolitical discussions might be more worth it, as this one is too limited.  I mean, the island situation might change when Japan and Russia eventually get new leadership, but at present, I don't see it happening.

[Tchuck]

So cute with your condescension. I fear your time in this forum will be short lived.

 

1 hour ago, NickSmith said:

I have already written my opinion in a post and even made a conclusion at the end.

Where? I read your post. And re-read it. Nowhere do you present an argument, an opinion, or even a conclusion. You are literally stating what happened. No more, no less. So kindly f*ck off with your condescension and follow the rules of the forum.

 

So your opinion is "Japan will never get the Kurils". Ok? Sure. As long as Japan is parading US's military interest in the region, they'll have a slim chance at getting any claim over the islands. In fact, they could have received two of the four they are claiming, but the US forced them to reject Russia's offer.

 

Your point about "placing military bases in the Kurils being a no-no for Russia" is moot, though. You are aware that Hokkaido is really damn close to Russia, right? If the U.S. wanted, they could put up a base in there and Russia would have no say. But it's unnecessary, as the current military bases that the U.S. do possess in Japan are already close enough. Closer than the Soviet Union's bases in Cuba were.

[Svip]

As I remember, Putin backed down when Russians protested about the potential selling of the islands.  Like this story from January.

[sivispacem]

2 hours ago, NickSmith said:

It`s a pity that you can`t read...

Enough.