Russia rules out 'automatic' return of disputed islands to Japan

After Japan and the United States had signed the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security in 1960, the Soviet Union withdrew its obligation to hand over the islands. A Soviet government’s memorandum dated January 27, 1960, said that those islands would only be handed over to Japan if all foreign troops were pulled out of the country.

Russia will most likely and should stick to those terms since anything else would alter the balance of power in the Pacific and put Russia's security at risk.

marcelitoNov. 20  11:43 am JST

A "lack of scruples" describes Russia, which invaded the southern kuriles after Japan had declared surrender.

As opposed to the unfailingly "honorable " Japan attacking Pearl Harbor after declaring its hand ne.....scruples , huh?.....puhleaseeese.

Anyone who has studied WWII knows that the Japanese Declaration of War was to be delivered just before the attack on Pearl Harbor but was delayed by the translator at the Japanese Embassy in Washington DC. The concept that there was "no intent" to declare war was U.S. propaganda used to enrage the American public who since WWI had refused to become involved in another war.

The "lack of scruples" on the part of Russia is recognized by the United States, United Kingdom and the EU who all consider the Southern Kuriles to be Japanese Territory under Russian occupation. Japan declared acceptance of unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945. Allied forced ceased all offensive operations from that point. Except for the USSR which continued and invaded the Southern Kuriles on August 18th.

Russians would not handover these islands as they will ultimately be used as dagger against them by the Americans

Japanese Major Media have repeated only optimistic reports toward Japanese Society on the basis of Abe Government explanation.

"...had the opportunity arisen", means that from the surviving internal documents of the Japanese military the treaty with the Soviet Union was no more than treacherous tatemae, just a scrap of paper that the fanatically anti-communist J-government had no intention of honoring if the war situation in the West changed in favor of the Nazis, thus enabling the Japanese imperialists to grab long-coveted swaths of the Russian Far East. A long-overdue treaty between Russia and Japan to "end the war" would be of mutual benefit.

u_s__reamerNov. 19  11:57 pm JST

Some Japanese still disingenuously protest the sudden attack of the Red Army, but the equally treacherous Japanese militarists , too, had the opportunity arisen, would have had no scruples about breaking the non-aggression treaty with the Soviet Union. Such is the brutal reality of warfare. It's time for the Japanese to move forward and formalize a Russo-Japanese peace treaty.

And you disingenuously claim what Japan would have done, which they never did. The idea that Japan would have broken the JPN-USSR Non Aggression Pact is ridiculous, they had no ability to fight Russia since they were facing daily defeat in the Pacific. It is a known historical fact that Japan was taken completely by surprise when the Soviets broke the pact.

A "lack of scruples" describes Russia, which invaded the southern kuriles after Japan had declared surrender. Territory that Japan had never taken from Russia in war, as the Russo-Japanese Treaty of 1855 established their ownership as Japanese.

Ex_ResNov. 19  09:30 pm JST

Whatever next ? Maybe Russia will dumfounds us all and lay claim to Hokkaido...

Japanese people do not seem to understand how lucky they are that Russia did not take Hokkaido after WW2.

Yes they do. lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr--GVIoluU

Correction: Russia rules out returning any territory they control. Period.

The Russians gave Japan 6 months clear warning that the treaty they’d signed with imperial Japan demarcating Far Eastern spheres of influence would not be renewed. This was six months more warning than the Japanese gave the Americans at Pearl Harbor.

u_s__reamer:

The Japanese lost the war they started and the Russians got some of the spoils

Russia declared a war against Japan AFTER US dropped the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima and invaded those islands AFTER Japan had already surrendered. It was not war spoils. It was after-war looting.

Some Japanese still disingenuously protest the sudden attack of the Red Army, but the equally treacherous Japanese militarists , too, had the opportunity arisen, would have had no scruples about breaking the non-aggression treaty with the Soviet Union. Such is the brutal reality of warfare. It's time for the Japanese to move forward and formalize a Russo-Japanese peace treaty.

I like how Russia declared war on Japan just after US fought and nuked it. No skin in that game (euro front much different story) but they made off with some islands. Kinda like looters getting the goods before cops restore order.

"Nyet"

Whatever next ? Maybe Russia will dumfounds us all and lay claim to Hokkaido...

Japanese people do not seem to understand how lucky they are that Russia did not take Hokkaido after WW2.

If I was playing Risk, I wouldn't give up those islands either.

Hoppo Ryodo issue will run and run.  Russia means that there will not be an "eventual" return of the islands.

apart from the black van boys, not sure anyone really cares that much.

Nevertheless they were stolen by Russia in'45.

Just because an "automatic" return has been ruled out, does not mean some sort of phased handover is out of the question.  With all the negativity surrounding Russia at the moment, don't be surprised if a sudden diplomatic move towards Japan is initiated, to show good nature and also to drive a huge wedge between Japan and the US. I suspect in exchange for the islands Japan will be required to open up to trade and possible military hardware purchases from Russia. Clever really!

The Japanese lost the war they started and the Russians got some of the spoils. The Germans lost the war, too, and they were forced to concede far more territory to the victors. This is just the price you pay when you lose a war. The Japanese need to learn patience as exhibited by the Mexicans who were forced to surrender mind-boggling swaths of territory to the rapacious gringos. Slowly but surely the reconquest is already quietly afoot.

Japan should be more concerned about the stranglehold the US has on Japan. For over 75 years Japan has been and still is under US occupation.

Whatever next ? Maybe Russia will dumfounds us all and lay claim to Hokkaido...