politics

Medvedev reiterates Russia's claim to 4 disputed islands

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no matter what they think if they give up the islands then China will be all over them for those other islands, and maybe even Okinawa will separate. Maybe not that far, but there is no upside for Japan in a world where people want to get things done.

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russia had no chance to secured these 4 islands without the US defeating Japan by the end of ww2. so mr Medevedev shud say Merry Christmas to the US.

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Has Medvedev even looked at a map? Russia's claim to these islands, especially Kunashiri, is ridiculous.

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Russia is what it is, the land that made the word gulag famous. There is no way they are giving back these islands. Moscow is still as corrupt and totalitarian as it was during the cold war. It has nothing to gain by giving them back and much to lose if it did so. As for Medvedev saying Merry Christmas to Washington, the current administration said Merry Christmas to Medvedev by giving away missile defense development in the new START treaty.

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The could probably just take the Islands and nothing would happen. The US wouldn't go to war with Russia over them Islands, neither would Japan. Would Japan like to see the US spill it's boys' blood over them Islands, I'm sure they would if that is what it took.

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vulcan at 10:43 AM JST - 25th December The could probably just take the Islands and nothing would happen. The >US wouldn't go to war with Russia over them Islands, neither would >Japan. Would Japan like to see the US spill it's boys' blood over them >Islands, I'm sure they would if that is what it took.

The interesting thing here is that the United States (as well as the UK and the European Parliament) consider these islands to be Japanese territory presently under Russian control. If hypthetically Japan took over these islands possibly without a shpt being fired by either side, the islands would fall under Japanese control qualifying them for US defense thereof under Article 5 of the Mutual Defense Treaty. Then of course there's no way that Russia would press the issue on military terms. Act is that only Russia thinks that the USSR has any right to these islands. The rest of the world including all the other WWII allied nations consider that Soviets "stole" them AFTER Japan had already surrendered.

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The japanese nationalist( with proper samurai spirit ) should charter a boat, land on the disputed islands and plant the flag. Let's see what the russian response will be.............may be they will sink the boat ? Shoot the modern day samurai ? arrest them for ransom ? give the islands back ?

But................ most likely nothing will happen, the japanese nationalist is all talk and no show. Public continue to bemoan the loss of the secrad land etc etc.

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the islands belong to russia. THE END

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Why would Medvedev disagree with Putin?

Weasel, you have made a very astute observation.

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Sarge:

Has Medvedev even looked at a map? Russia's claim to these islands, especially Kunashiri, is ridiculous.

Funny, that! I was just thinking the same about the islands situated right next to Taiwan. Even the former independent kingdom of Ryukyu was ridiculously far from Japan when it was overtaken.

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"Asked how he views the Japanese government’s reaction to his visit, the president said he believes Tokyo has demonstrated an excessively nervous response."

Bing bang boom! Medvedev is no clown like the leaders in Japan, and knows Japan is sweating over the issue. Given time, the claims will go further and further into Russian favour, as they administer and live on the islands. They know it, and hence can easily point out Japan's nervousness and need to resolve the issue quickly (in their favour).

These are Russian islands, bottom line. The idea of Japan attacking and taking over the islands is ludicrous, and quite funny at the same time. Japan would NEVER take such a risk, as Russia could EASILY destroy them in return (and the US would not get involved unless it became an all out war). Japan simply cannot risk it. And so Russia is laughing, and rightly so.

sarge: "Has Medvedev even looked at a map? Russia's claim to these islands, especially Kunashiri, is ridiculous."

Pukey makes a good point, sarge. What's more, the distance doesn't matter; there are islands all over the world that are claimed by nations not closest to them. You think Guam and Saipan are closer to the US than they are to other nations? How about all the islands between South America and Africa (or close to Antarctica) claimed by Britain, France, or Norway. The fact is, Russia took these islands at the end of WWII -- they are the spoils of war. Had they given them back soon after it would have been something different. But now they are, as I said, worked on and lived on by Russians, and administered by them.

That's all there is to it. Japan can't claim ownership of one island because they control it, then say all islands controlled by others are theirs and administration by another nation is not important.

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obsert: "The japanese nationalist( with proper samurai spirit ) should charter a boat, land on the disputed islands and plant the flag. Let's see what the russian response will be.............may be they will sink the boat ? Shoot the modern day samurai ? arrest them for ransom ? give the islands back ?"

The Russians have, on more than one occasion, captured boats who go NEAR the islands to fish and in the last incident fired warning shots at them (didn't they even hit the bow of one of the ships?). The Japanese panicked and complained, and eventually the men were released, though the captain was held for a longer time. I forget if the trawlers were returned. A Japanese ship landing on the islands and planted a flag? I don't think they'd go so far as to 'murder' them, but would definitely arrest and hold them for a while, and rightly so.

So, in other words, doing so would really do nothing for the person/people who were dumb enough to invade Russian land and plant a flag; aside from getting praise from idiot right-wingers at home.

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obsert: ""The japanese nationalist( with proper samurai spirit ) should charter a boat..."

Meant to add; Japanese nationalists are too cowardly to do anything like this anyway.

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This is what happens when you start a war and get you ass kicked in the end! To the victor go the spoils. The islands are Russian NOW and FOREVER! Japan should quit whining and get on with it.

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I'm sure that an accommodation can be negotiated that is in the mutual interests of both parties - not in the immediate future most likely.

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the japanese nationalist is all talk and no show

You wouldn't dare say that to one's face, so why say it here?

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The time now has long passed for Jpn to get anything outta these iles, Russia played Jpn & continues to do so with a hand that only gets stronger, Jpn unfortunately grows weaker as time passes & that doesnt look likely to change

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So there will NEVER be a peace treaty, time to pull back. No trade or cooperation, etc. Screw them we do not need their oil. Russia wants the islands, ok. We can make there decision painful. Kan will you grow a spine, so far all you can do is screw the Okinawa people, BAKA!

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GW, Russia is getting weaker year after year not stronger.

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Japan is right by keeping the issue alive Japan almost got it when Gorbi and Yeltsin were in power. I was in USSR at that time and had a strong feeling that islands are about to go. Japans can blame now their government at that time for not suggesting something lucrative (someone got too greedy to pay up for the historical opportunity)

If someone weak and corrupt like Gorbi or Yeltsin, or moment-focused businessmen like Chodorcovsky are in power, Japan will get whatever claims they have.

Russia says – not today or tomorrow, not at current watch That’s all. Any “rights” discussions today are not applicable to (ugly) war results imbedded in life. You cam to kill me, I was stronger, had to kill you (no "winning" war like in games, but kill), granted you with life and took something you took before. That's the rule of war all keep for now. Who understands what and how now - dos not matter until I have power or deside so. So, Japan keeps pushing to test the power. That Is All.

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"..So there will NEVER be a peace treaty, time to pull back. No trade or cooperation, etc. Screw them we do not need their oil. Russia wants the islands, ok. We can make there decision painful. Kan will you grow a spine, so far all you can do is screw the Okinawa people.."

There has been no peace treaty..no trade.. Japan keenly interested in the oil & gas in Siberia ( sounds that oil reserves just discovered by Japanese conglomerate.. quite likely to lose them anyway ). worldmap changes over time in history & territories kept changing hands. Northern territories / Southern Kurils, Takeshima / Dokdo & Senkakus / Diaoyu Isles are typical issues whereby emotional factors outweighted the actual national interests in a broader sense & over long term.. need people with genuine strategic & far reaching visions to have these cases resolved..

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How many Japanese actually lived on those islands at the time the Russians took them? Anyway war spoils are shoganai.

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The Cairo Accords of 1943 contain the clause that "All lands taken by violence or greed, shall be returned to those who it was taken from." Russia should be given back those islands that Japan stole. It is all in the "signed by Japan" Potsdam Surrender Documents.

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... we do not need their oil...

Japan imports more than 90% of all its fuel, and would love to replace Iranian imports as the USA insists on going to war again. Thus this would not be correct in the slightest.

So Japan needs Russia, but how far Russia cares to need Japan is now being tested. Clearly it's not reciprocal when in a position of weakness.

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All Japan has to do is say no and keep saying no and the islands do not become Russian. Pretty simple.

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It would be incorrect for Japan to want Russian oil when the only reason Russia is interested today is because of possible oil and gas finds around the islands since Russian oil capacity has been falling. Thus why not develop those resources yourself versus handing the islands over only to pay for those same resources? Strange.

Save yourself from making difficult decisions by not making concessions now to Russia. Think ahead with Japan saying no and they save themselves a lot of grief.

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To YuriOtani,

"GW, Russia is getting weaker year after year not stronger."

Please research that statement in the near future. All GDP world rankings shows the Russian Federation rising every year, w/ most ranking them in the top 12 GDPs in the world. My estimation is that the Russian Federation WILL hit the top 10 on or after the 2012 APEC Russian Federation as predicted on JT a while back. Japan, from my sources, have done nothing to harm the ascension of the Russian Federation, but helped each other in business. A possibility of a compromise exists.

It is prudent for those who are in a situation to affect this situation to abandon the "all or nothing" negotiating position. So much can be gained by exploring the "grey area".

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TheMarion at 07:36 AM JST - 26th December The Cairo Accords of 1943 contain the clause that "All lands taken by >violence or greed, shall be returned to those who it was taken from." >Russia should be given back those islands that Japan stole. It is all in >the "signed by Japan" Potsdam Surrender Documents.

Japan never "stole" those four islands from anyone. Thet were stolen by the Soviets AFTER Japan had already surrendered. This is why the WWII allies all consider them Japamnese territory current "under Russian control". Get your history straight.

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goddog at 05:41 AM JST - 26th December How many Japanese actually lived on those islands at the time the >Russians took them? Anyway war spoils are shoganai.

About 17,000 Japanese were expelled by the Soviets.

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OssanAmerica: I doubt that you can document ANYTHING you write. I can -- it is all part of the Cairo Accords amd the Potsdam Surrender Documents amnd they are all available on Google.

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TheMarion at 12:25 AM JST - 27th December OssanAmerica: I doubt that you can document ANYTHING you write. I can -- >it is all part of the Cairo Accords amd the Potsdam Surrender Documents >amnd they are all available on Google.

You are totally incorrect as always. Those four islands would have been taken away from Japan under the Cairo Accords as many territories were. But they weren't because they were not taken in any war and are exempt. The same applies to the Senkaku Islands, they too were never taken from any other country in a war therefore were not taken away from Japan at the end of WWII. Try actually investingating the subject instead of just repeating Cairo Accords and Potsdam Agreement all the time. The United Staytes, United Kingdom and the Europlean Parliament considers these four islands to be Japanese territory currently under Russian control. The WWII allies never agreed with the Soviets taking them because they did so AFTER JAPAN HAD ALREADY SURRENDERED. Hope this helps.

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We need to vote out the spineless Kan and the DPJ. Stand firm on no northern territories, no peace treaty! Why should we pay for oil/gas that belongs to Japan?

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Russia' has been through a lot, with the fall of the Soviet Union and 'Cold-war' animosities ;along with the expansion of 'cold-war' foes - N.A.T.O. What is NOT needed is a dispute of the islands , but, a friendship of trust between - Japan and Russia.

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