Japan Protests Putin’s Visit to Disputed Island

Tokyo, Aug. 13 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to one of the four northwestern Pacific islands claimed by Tokyo but controlled by Moscow. Putin’s visit to Etorofu, one of the islands Japan calls the Northern Territories, is “incompatible with Japan’s consistent position and is absolutely unacceptable,” Takaichi told reporters at her official residence. She said Tokyo “strongly protests” the trip, adding, “The Northern Territories are an inherent part of our country’s territory both historically and under international law.” The prime minister discussed possible responses with officials including Keiichi Ichikawa, secretary-general of the National Security Secretariat, and Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi. Later in the day, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev to the Foreign Ministry and lodged a protest. Takaichi told reporters that she learned of Putin’s visit to Etorofu on Thursday afternoon. The visit came as a surprise, a Japanese government source said. Russia’s state-run news agency Tass reported that the president visited the island Thursday. “This visit has further hardened Japanese public sentiment against Russia and made it difficult to improve bilateral relations in the medium to long term,” she said. “We want the Russian side to take the gravity of this matter seriously.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]