Russia Notifies Japan of Shooting Drill Plan near Disputed Island

Tokyo, Oct. 16 (Jiji Press)–Russia has notified Japan of a plan to conduct a shooting drill near Shikotan, one of the four Russian-held northwestern Pacific islands claimed by Tokyo, between last Friday and Nov. 1, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Wednesday. Hayashi told a press conference that Russia has also warned that it would temporarily suspend the innocent passage rights of foreign warships and government vessels in waters around the four islands for eight days through Monday next week. The affected waters include Japanese territorial waters, he said. Those moves are an apparent attempt by Moscow to assert jurisdiction over the islands and surrounding waters. In Japan, the four islands are known as the Northern Territories. The Japanese government has lodged protests with Moscow through diplomatic channels, saying that the Russian moves run counter to Tokyo’s position and are unacceptable. “We will continue to monitor the situation and respond appropriately,” Hayashi said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]