Four Islands – Willing to Compromise?
Japan has long demanded the return of four islands held by Russia. The history of the four islands has been contentious. At the end of the war Japanese citizens were deported back to the mainland and the dispute over the territory has remained unresolved. Today there are 30,000 Russians that live on the islands.
The islands are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and are thought to have both oil and gas reserves. But in Japan underlying concerns have remained over the stationing of Russian forces so close to its air and maritime space.
The issue of these island has been highly prominent in Japan’s media. Last week, the issue re-appeared in the Mainichi Shimbun. This time however, the talk was not nationalistic but rather cooperative. There were suggestions made that Japan should promote a strategy of bilateral cooperation over the territories. It was argued that there could be scope for cooperation over energy, the environment and the development of north east Siberia. This compromise is unusual.
The plan that has been proposed by one of PM Aso’s top aides is controversial within Japan. Furthermore, it has also not been approved by Russia. But in any case, there are a few questions that come to mind –
firstly, whether Aso can run the risk of implementing this kind of regional strategy so close to a general election?
secondly, whether bilateral cooperation as a strategy over this territory is possible given the mutually strong nationalistic feelings over the territories?
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