Abe, Putin make little progress on territorial dispute

With the US an unreliable partner, with Japan stuck in a bubble-year's economy dependent on fossil fuels, and with Russia having huge reserves of fossil fuels, Russia holds the cards.

Abe has met Putin more than 20 times since becoming PM and yet nothing has been achieved in resolving the territorial issue. It’s obvious Russia has no intention of returning those islands to Japan. Don’t waste time, Mr Abe. They just want Japanese money.

Japan is about to dump cash into Russian territory in the hopes that Russia will hand over its territory. Sound plan, Shin-chan.

Abe about to cry?

The only one suprised at Japans dynamic and agile diplomacy is the Japanese ruling dynasty.

Abe is powerless between trump and putin. He doesn't have the wherewithal to be an effective diplomat.

The 1956 joint declaration, under which Japan and the Soviet Union re-established diplomatic ties, mentions Moscow handing over the two smaller islands -- Shikotan and the Habomai islet group -- to Tokyo.

This was by Nikita Krushev whom Russians fault for being too generous . This same year he gave Crimea to Ukraine. He was Ukrainian himself. If Japan pegs the signing of the peace treaty with Russia on the return of ANY of the islands, they will be in a long bad dream. Jesus may come sooner.

Russia will not return the islands as long as the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is in place as it does not want more US bases on its borders

Russia is in de facto control of the islands, has strategic uses for them, has no over riding gain in giving them back, Japan is willing to pump money in to the islands to Russia’s benefit in some vain hope they will be returned. Some one please explain why Russia is going to hand them back?

This picture doesn't need a caption or a thousand words. They look like a boring old couple who have spent too long in one room together.

Switching gears, Abe has sought to focus on economic programs in five areas -- aquaculture, greenhouse farming, tourism, wind power and waste reduction -- that the two countries are looking to conduct together on the islands

That ain’t switching gears, thats just doing what Russia wants you to do. Japan will need to wait for a change in the Russian autocracy before they can raise this issue again. If you want some respect from Russia tell em to shove the flea bitten islands and the join economic program which will simply be Japan ploughing money and infrastructure into the islands making them less desirable to part with from the Russian perspective. A two year old could work that out!

No surprise here...

He will have come and left. Putin’s task is to string Abe along, get as much cash as possible and then say “No deal”

Russia is not some backwater country in Africa or S.E. Asia, even with serious embargoes by the West , it's flourishing. It has taken that opportunity to develop its own industries in order to be self sufficient. And it's doing very well. I don't think it necessary to expound on Rrussia's technological advancement in space, military etc. I stopped listening to Japanese fluff about not financing countries, the staple being N.Korea, it has never collapsed from the hot air Japan blows its way for decades now.

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The two certainly look the part. I'll bet the camera-person here took hundred shots just to get this one to attach here!

Both countries for decades have status quo and no reasons to leave the stance as others will first think regarding their own benefits! Relax and both sides may win

Abe, Putin make little progress on territorial dispute

And, they never will. They are like the seagulls from that scene in Finding Nemo. “It’s mine!” “It’s mine!”.........

@Cogito Ergo Sum

If Japan pegs the signing of the peace treaty with Russia on the return of ANY of the islands, they will be in a long bad dream. Jesus may come sooner.

He will have come and left. Putin’s task is to string Abe along, get as much cash as possible and then say “No deal”.

The 1956 joint declaration, under which Japan and the Soviet Union re-established diplomatic ties, mentions Moscow handing over the two smaller islands -- Shikotan and the Habomai islet group -- to Tokyo.

Eager for a diplomatic achievement ahead of a parliamentary election next month, Abe had been hoping to convince Putin to sign a basic agreement making good on that promise at Saturday's meeting.

But Abe was forced to give up on that game plan after Moscow took a more hardline stance than expected, Japanese government sources have said.

Well, that's typical of Russia. First a piecemeal offer, then when the other side expresses interest of acceptance, Russia backpedals and takes a hardline position.

When you look at a map of the region, you'll see that the disputed four islands are a gateway into the Pacific Ocean for the Russian Navy otherwise bottled up in the Sea of Okhotsk. That's Russia's concern: If Japan (and the U.S.) controls those islands, the Russian Navy will not gain access to the Pacific Ocean easily.

For that sole reason, Russia will never return those islands.

Japan and U.S. concerns is once Russia gains full access to the Pacific Ocean, then Russia can exercise its expansionism in the Pacific Ocean north of Japan, in concert with China near Senkaku and Ryukyu Islands, represents a security threat to Japan and stability in the Pacific region. That's why the U.S. maintains a military presence in the proximity region, which is mainland Japan and Okinawa.

Russia will not return the islands as long as the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is in place as it does not want more US bases on its borders (Hello Kitty 321)

What makes you think Russia will return the islands when the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is abolished and U.S. military presence out of Japan? Russia will never relinquish the island for the reasons stated above.

Another thing: there are mineral deposits and oil reserves there......something Russia doesn't want to relinquish control over either.

If Japan thinks it can get back those islands with infrastructure investment or outright cash, Japan had better think again. Will never happen. If Japan really wants those islands back, it is going to have use force. But then again, that violates Article 9. (What a tangled web that Article 9 has weaved.)

From Mr.Putin's face expression: he just don't likes you, Mr.Abe!

To be fair to Abe san, it's a long game, and the starting point has got to be 'We Want It Back', and the message has to be consistent and unwavering. At somepoint, when Putin need something desperately, he'll put it for bargaining, AND he'll be able to say 'Japan has been screaming for too long, let's open our arm of friendship etc.'

The only way any progress will be made is if Japan is willing to accept the two islands back and then unconditionally give up claims to the other two. It's been offered, but the right-wing fanatics won't let anything happen short of getting all four islands back. So, Russia will keep all four, and build up more of a military presence on them, and the longer time passes, the less claim Japan has to them. Time to either take the two back and swallow your pride, or move on.

Russian economy is descending to under South Korea. Far east Russia is invaded by the Chinese. There is no demerit if Japan doesn't conclude Peace Treaty with Russia for real investment. Japan must learn tenaciousness of cockroach like Koreans.

Politically speaking,Japan is more in line with China,than with a western democracy.

actually more in line with China culturally as well, if you stay long enough you will see it

Japanese politicians have their hands full governing their existing islands they don't need any more land

If a picture Putins a thousand words then why can't I Putin you?

Give us our daily Bread

Any talking is better than no talking.

Abe is completely naive if he thinks Putin will ever give up any land whatsoever. 

Putin will listen to one thing: Japanese Yen. Japan has all the money, Russia has the 4 Japanese Islands. Simple business.

Putin- hand back Japans 4 islands NOW!

Abe is completely naive if he thinks Putin will ever give up any land whatsoever. Doesn't Abe know that Putin is all about invading other countries. He will be taking over Belarus next.

Each time progress is made, little by little Russia wil come up with new reasons for not handing the islands over to Japan. We can just speculate what's gonna be the next reason for Russia to not hand over the islands.

They will be ours sooner or later. Keep the faith.