politics

Abe, Putin agree to restart peace pact talks

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Konsta am sure that nothing less than 2 will be accepted. Joint use would cause problems. I urge the PM to agree to the 56 agreement. It is a done thing and just needs to be done.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

As I understand, Putin was not against the 50/50 solution. Thus, the most realistic would be to divide the islands two to each, plus jointly develop all the four and jointly use waters around all of them for fishing and the other economical development. It will bring clear economical and political benefit to both countries.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Riots in China was not welcomed by many Chinese. They were extremely unfortunate events.

Please. Everyone knows that all those rallies with screaming anti-japanese slogans, throwing stones into japanese-built cars on streets of chinese cities were approved and conducted by Chinese authoriries. Yes, riots weren't welcomed by many chinese people. But rallies and demonstrations were welcomed by Government of PRC. And not only people of Japan, the whole World understood it.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

tian4670

Do you think PRC can provide a compromise like the one I had proposed above?

I doubt it. PRC wants all. That is not called meeting half way.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

But Russians never demonstrated such wild and hysterical behavior like, say Chinese did during last dispute over Senkaku islands.

Riots in China was not welcomed by many Chinese. They were extremely unfortunate events.

However, if you think those are wild and hysterical behavior, how are you going to describe highly dangerous and costly ship bumping in open sea?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

technosphere

You are only telling half true.

When I was in China during 1980s, Chinese settled several disputes with smaller countries. With each of those smaller countries, they won some disputes and lost some. If you don't believe, you can go and check, they are all public record.

Senkaku/Diaoyu has been Chinese (including Taiwanese) fishing region. Sovereignty was not an issue many care about, until after the islands were handover by American to Japan. Japanese government promptly sent coast guard boats into the region to drive Chinese and Taiwanese fishing boats away, by highly dangerous and costly 'ship bumping' exercise. Of course ordinary Japanese would not have a problem. It was huge one for Chinese and Taiwanese fishermen. Traditionally more Japanese friendly Taiwanese government did not want to do anything to anger Japanese. That left Taiwanese fishermen in cold alone for years. CCP saw a good chance to show every Chinese and Taiwanese people that it was the only party willing to and able to protect its own people from foreign aggression. That is why it takes tougher and tougher stance against Japan every year.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Russia is still trying to get even with Japan for the beating it took in the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War. And merely giving back the islands will not soothe those feelings. If I remember correctly, didn't former Russian leader Boris Yeltsin say that if he tried to give the islands back to Japan he would be finished immediately. The anti-Japanese feelings still run deep over a century later.

You confused Russia to USA or China. There were not any anti-Japanese feelings during Soviet times. There are no any anti-Japanese feelings in modern Russia. You wrote about Russo-Japanese war when Imperial Russia completely lost all battles. But you forgot about Soviet Offensive operations in Manchuria, Kurils and Sakhalin in 1945. Soviets regained all territories of Sakhalin and Kurils. There are absolutely no reasons to be angered towards to Japan or Japanese people. By the way, in 1945 Soviets fought Imperial Japanese Army, not Japanese civilians. The USSR did not drop bombs on Japanese cities. Nowadays every year Japanese ultras celebrate a Day of Northern Territories. Betcha, Russian state TV shows those actions. But Russians never demonstrated such wild and hysterical behavior like, say Chinese did during last dispute over Senkaku islands.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

<>They better made more dialogue.it is better for Japan to accept the 1956 Treaty which states two islands on both countries.hoping to see Japan and Russia peace talk to be signed.starting to see the best of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the coming years.but China is a different matters.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Vlad Putin, health problem? He probably nicked his hand wresting a Siberian tiger while Abe bravely downed a pork cutlet. That should be an interesting meeting, though. I wonder who'll blink first. Japan lost the islands in a war. Russia declared war and Japan lost. Furthermore, Japan relinquished its rights to them in the Treaty of San Francisco. It will have to put a large sum on the table to get even one or two back.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Russia has largely resolved its territorial disputes with China. It seems to be that Japan is the variable that has trouble coming to terms with its neighbours.

Of course communist china is going to be more accommodating when dealing with a legit military power like Russia. But you missed my point. I think the Russians have been waiting for NATO and other western countries to engage them in fair dialogue and compromise for ten years now. Japan has a chance to show some leadership here. I know your hatred of Japan precludes you from believing they are capable of showing leadership, but I'm more optimistic.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Look at the map and the Liancourt Rocks are nowhere near Japan - I don't know why they are bothering with trying to claim it as their's. Almost as bad as Senkaku, except for the fact that Japan effectively controls it now.

As for Kurils - what's this talk of a pipeline from the Kurils down to Kanto along the Pacific Tohoku sea coast? Yeh right - see what a M9 earthquake did there last year. Would be good to see joint Rus-Jap development there in the Kurils in any case.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think Japan should accept the terms of the 1956 agreement. Two islands for each nation and sign the peace treaty. Then drop claims on the Liancourt Rocks. Our friendship with the Republic of Korea is more important. Changed my mind on Russia, well this is my view.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The natural resources on the bigger Iturup island can only be escavated with Japanese cooperation and the only strategic importance is the strait between Iturup and Urup which is the gateway for ships from the military port Vladivostok to the Pacific ocean but that is back during the cold war. The Russian's ambition towards the east beyond the Pacific had died down from the Soviet days.

The realistic compromise would be to allow Japanese to re-enter and acquire real estate from the present owners within the four island. The two smaller island returned to Japan. Japan provide the required budget to develop various natural resources within the Kuril and Sakhalin islands in exchange Japan obtains right to priority purchase right of the natural resources based on market price.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

hidingoutDec. 29, 2012 - 01:23PM JST

Smart move by Abe. Unlike the communist chinese, the Russians are open to negotiation. It remains a mystery to me why more democratic countries haven't tried to work with Russia.

hkitagawaDec. 29, 2012 - 01:24PM JST

Putin is reliable and he likes Japan. There is a big chance for both countries to sign peace once and forever.

Japan is the one that's always had a problem to negotiate. In 1956 Ichiro Hotoyam and the Soviet Union nearly came to an agreement, wher Japan would get 2 of the Southern Kurile islands and the Soviet Union would keep the other 2.. That agreement was totally scuppered, largely by US pressure, and the Japanese came up with this new term 'The Northern Territories and demanded all 4 islands of this newly invented geographical term.

Ever since then, the Japanese position has always been the same, 'we want to talk about you returning these 4 islands'.

Russia has largely resolved its territorial disputes with China. It seems to be that Japan is the variable that has trouble coming to terms with its neighbours.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

The big brave Russians took over those islands after Japan had been defeated in WW2 and are well-entrenched there. The islands are strategically and economically important and will not ever be given back IMHO. However, Sakhalin oil and gas may enter into the discussions, let's wait and see but don't hold your breath. This news article pops up every time we have a new Prime Minister, same with N Korean abductees and Dokdo/Takeshima/Liancourt Rocks.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

What is Abe seriously going to offer? Japan rejected the idea of getting the two closest islands back ages ago, and every time there is a hint that giving something up might be acceptable the right-wingers go on a rampage. The islands are Russian, bottom line. Japan forfeited them a long time ago. So again, what can Abe realistically offer? Fossil fuel contracts as leverage?

Abe sure is making a whole lot of promises he won't be able to keep, in the wake of a party that lost miserably because it made a whole lot of promises it couldn't keep.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Putin is reliable and he likes Japan. There is a big chance for both countries to sign peace once and forever.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Smart move by Abe. Unlike the communist chinese, the Russians are open to negotiation. It remains a mystery to me why more democratic countries haven't tried to work with Russia.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

YuriOtaniDec. 29, 2012 - 10:02AM JST

Wonder what President Putin has to offer? The two island deal again or nothing.

I wonder what Abe has got offer? We want all four islands again or nothing.

I really don't know why Russia bothers

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Aren't there any Russians around here who can throw in their two yens' worth? The war ended in 1945, and as we all know there still isn't any peace treaty between Japan and Russia because of the northern islands' issue. After all this time, I can't see a caped Abe sweeping in with a big "S" on his T-shirt at the last moment and solving this whole issue. It's not gonna be that easy.

Russia is still trying to get even with Japan for the beating it took in the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War. And merely giving back the islands will not soothe those feelings. If I remember correctly, didn't former Russian leader Boris Yeltsin say that if he tried to give the islands back to Japan he would be finished immediately. The anti-Japanese feelings still run deep over a century later.

Anyway ... good luck Abe on yet another wild promise that you have given us.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Hopeful news. I hope they can reach an accord.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

It's a time to sign a Peace Pact.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Two each. Let's get it over with.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Wonder what President Putin has to offer? The two island deal again or nothing.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Serrano: Too funny! ! ! ! ! LOL ....(;-o

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Abe: OK, I'm a realist, we give up all claims to the islands we used to call "The Northern Territories," even the island that's practically surrounded by Hokkaido and that we can see from the shore with the naked eye.

Putin: Seems reasonable. I think we can work something out if you throw in some loans.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Well dialogue is good..... It's better than not talking . . . .but, don't trust Putin.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

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