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© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Russia deploys missiles near Pacific islands claimed by Japan
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV MOSCOW©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
84 Comments
buffalo
Feel sorry for the personnel stationed on what looks like Mars
sakurasuki
Whose island is that? Is it their island? So it's their right to do that.
Good
Wait till a massive discovery of oil is made off Sakhalin Island.
Fighto!
Don't.
Feel sorry for the Japanese kicked off their ancestral islands, only to watch Russians pollute, militarize and damage the pristine environment. It will take two decades for Japan to clean up and restore these islands once they regain them.
UK9393
Putin on the blitz. Inch eye KGB spy just wants attention. @Fighto: Kicked off their ancestral lands? That'd be the Ainu.
kurisupisu
Japan claims them but can do nothing-no point whining then…
Chibakun
The Russian's were close to invading Japan in 1945, be glad that never happened.
Meiyouwenti
Japan has wasted decades negotiating with the Russians for the return of the four islands. You’re naive if you think they will just hand them over through mere talks.
Hiro
They wanted a share investment agreement with us to develop those islands and improve trades but at the same time hold drills and station missiles there. Do they really think that is a good idea to boost cooperation? There is no way any investment is gonna happen. They can freeze in those rocks for all i care at this point.
finally rich
Communism is and has always been the worst enemy of the entire human race
Samit Basu
Japan deploys missiles on its islands, so why can't Russia deploy missiles on its islands as well?
William77
Do you even know history?
Japan’s ancestral islands are Kyushu and Honshu not the northern ones which are originally from the Ainu.
Japan lost a war which started.
The islands are Russians and there is nothing that will change it.
Chili
JP have given many billions in aid to Russia. What do they get in return? a bloody shaft in the rear! Japanese will never learn same as Taliban trying to coax them we will be nice to you for a couple billion!
Samit Basu
@Chili
Peace and forgiveness?
Monty
Japan should do the same thing at the Senkaku Islands.
If China complains, Japan should give the same answer like Russia:
*Asked about the missile deployment, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia *has a sovereign right to deploy its military forces wherever it deems necessary on its territory.
Samit Basu
@Monty
Japan doesn't have the balls to do so. After all, this is same Japan that has banned all Japanese civilians from landing on Diaoyu Islands due to the fear of China.
Michael Machida
Land grabs are so stupid.
dan
@ Finallyrich ..Communism is and has always been the worst enemy of the entire human race
I don't think so.
I would say that rampant greed and the amassing of vast wealth by a very few is the worst enemy of the human race ! All the while avoiding paying their fair share of tax and ripping off their employees ( e.g Amazon)
Getting rich on the hard work of others and exploiting loop holes to avoid paying tax doesn't make capitalism any less evil than communism.
yamada1043
The Cold War never ended … it morphed into something else with a moniker.
Dukeleto
Just tell Russia to shove the islands where the sun doesn’t shine and be done with it. They are never going to give them back willingly. They made that mistake by selling Alaska to the Yanks. They are never ever ever ever going to amputate another limb off “Mother Russia” again.
Tora
Not quite James Bondish is it? Just a truck with a missile launcher on the sand. No complex underground facility with hundred of missile silos? Budget cuts??
Sigurd
Japan gov needs to change tact. If they arbitrarily claim those islands, as they are doing, there is zero chance of any concessions by the Russians. If Japan seeks friendly cooperation with the Russians and then respectfully asks for some limited sovereignty over 2 of them, there is a possibility of territorial concessions by the Russians.
I know a couple of years ago, the occupiers flatly rejected not stationing military infrastructure on those islands in the event of Russian territorial concessions. If it wasn't already obvious they don't want the situation to be resolved. They are playing the entire Japanese nation off as idiots and the ruling regime does nothing about it.
Sigurd
The culture is very powerful. In Scandinavian countries it's quiet and subdued. The further east one goes, the unhappier everyone seems. Especially in winter. Then one crosses the Russian border and it's the polar opposite. Everyone seems happy, laughing and generally having a good attitude. Just don't go there and tell them what's what in their own lands.
The EU spends billions every year trying to block the Russian culture expanding westward while the Russians spend nothing at all. It's just Russians being Russian.
Desert Tortoise
Fixed sites are easy to target. Complex underground facilities can quickly become complex open air smoldering messes with a few well placed precision guided bombs with heavy penetrator warheads. Mobility gives them more survivability in a war.
Ken Holcomb
Funny how no one is addressing the reason why Russia feels the need to deploy long range missile launchers on their closest land to the Japanese mainland. (Yes, Hokkaido is Japanese mainland). Especially while at the same time as China is threatening military operations in regards to Taiwan.
If you don't think the two are connected, maybe try pulling your head out of whatever dark hole it's stuck in.
It's all well and good to whine about the military from a pacifist angle, but when your home is surrounded by military superpowers who have clear designs on making moves that threaten the status quo, it may be time to reevaluate your disdain for defense.
didou
This is a geopolitical nationalistic issue for strategic islands and the problem will never be solved,
If countries were smart, they will create a “joint venture “ to jointly administrate the islands.
Desert Tortoise
Russia is just trolling Japan and to an extent the US. The US and NATO are butting heads with the Russians over Ukraine both sides threatening the other and, oh look, Russia fires off two Zircons then reveals these things in the Kurile Islands.
gogogo
Should have taken the 2 out of the 4 Russia offered back when Japan has the chance.
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
@ fighto
It was the Japanese that kicked the indigenous natives of those island's and stole their ancestral lands that you are referring to.
And those natives and indigenous tribes were never given the opportunity to make claim to their ancestral lands.
However the article is mostly concerning the Russian use of thier own territory and Russia has every right to protect its borders.
indigo
Japan is teasing China. Russia is smelling the smoke and preparing for fires.
Japan is just a US army proxy base financed with our taxes!
Mr Kipling
'So obviously never been then. I'd choose Russian people over the soulless dull majority of Japan every time.
Eppee
Japan should worry about a possible Russian invasion.
ReasonandWisdomNippon
Being with Russia means poverty! Especially on the East side. Constantly crossing the border to buy basic supplies.
Ainu people and Okinawa people live 10x better then living under Russia.
Russians living on Japanese Islands would have a better life under Japan/Tokyo then under Putin Russia, most corrupt regime around. Handled Covid 100x worse.
Peter Neil
Looks Photoshopped.
Paul
It's a message and unlike Japan they are very able and prepared to use the coastal defense missile system...
Sheikh Yerboaby
"It's their land and their right to do it"......which would be a totally fair comment if they weren't crying about the Ukrainians doing similar with NATO forces in their land near the border of Russia.
It simply seems ridiculous to me that countries in this day and age STILL have imperial desires over over countries.....when will we stop our "leaders" from following this small minded and backwards policy?!
Sam Watters
Possession is 9/10’s of the law. Fine. The islands are Russian. The Russians stole them fair-and-square. Now stop sending any aid to them and the next time Russia starts bleating about the possibility of treaty talks in exchange for more aid, respond with one finger. As far as Russia putting military hardware and personnel on those island, I think putting an American base in Nemuro might be a good response.
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
Dont forget the new economic zone thats happening and that Russia is both Europe and Asia continent.
There's big opportunities for Japan to obtain a better relationship with Russia.
Russian is definitely Not communist.
The islands that are inhabited by the now named Japanese people were originally inhabited by natives and indigenous tribes.
Annexed by the ancient Korean peninsula kingdoms.
Most modern day Japanese are not the original inhabitants and only natives have the rights to claim ancestral lands not indigenous tribes.
OssanAmerica
Japan gave up sovereignty to these islands at the 1951 San Francisco Treaty. BUT- the USSR did not even attend much less sign it. This is why the United States, United Kingdon, The European Parliament , all other signtaory nations consider these 4 islands to be Japanese territory under Russian occupation. The USSR took these islands (negotiated in 1855) in violation of the Potsdam Agreement (Japan to lose territory taken by war), after Japan had surrendered. Typical USSR behavior in the closing days of WWII when they took all of Eastern Europe. This is the position of the United States. Period. Only an uneducated fool would call this Japanese nationalism. Really about time Japan stopped jerking around with Russia. They should announce an intent to deploy THAAD on Hokkaido unless Russia withdraws their military presence from the entire Kurile chain. If Russia sincerely wants a Peace Treaty with Japan they are going to have to start acting like it.
Cricky
The photo looks like a model, In the words of a Well known Japanese philosopher….”I have an island I have a missile system.. oh islands they are mine”.
OssanAmerica
Do you even know history? The Ainu are Japanese. And their direct ancestors the Jomon lived throughout the entire Archipelago. Today's "Japanese"are a genetic mix of the Jomon and Yaoi who came from the Asian mainland.
Japan did not start a war with the USSR. They had a Non-Aggresion Pact which the USSR unilaterally broke in order to invade Japan in the closing days of WWII.
William77
What an outdated thinking worth for the past early century.
According to your “logic” then Russia should return Kaliningrad (Königsberg) to Germany because the local people would live better under German rules than Russia.
Japan as Germany and Italy started WW II and they lost territories as they lost the war.
Stop,basta,Schluß and live with it.
Better live this century and it’s present rather than focus on a time gone.
William77
You’re very good in twisting history and numbers on your own way.
Japan willingly joined the Axis and when Nazi Germany invaded the USSR Japan decided to keep going with their triple alliance so they knew from the moment that Soviet Union became officially an enemy.
So stop victimizing always Japan and don’t twist history.
Totally non sense.
OssanAmerica
William77Today 10:58 am JST
Correct, at the time the USSR "Stole" the Southern Kuriles, he USSR had a Non-Aggression Pact in place with Japan. This is why in the final years of WWII Japan spent little defense on preventing a Soviet invasion.
The Allies wanted Stalin to open a front against Japan so that they would surrender sooner. Stalin considered this but was only fully motivated after the US showed him the second A-bomb over Nagsaki on Aug 6, 1945. The USSR unilaterally broke their Non-Aggression Agreement with Japan and declared war on Aug 9, 1945.
Japan announced acceptance of unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945. The USSR invaded the Southern Kuriles on August 18, 1945.
These dates can be verified easily. Facts are not "nonsense".
Hiro S Nobumasa
Japan should convince Uncle Sam to lease those disputed islands for 99 years and transfer the giant US bases in Okinawa there first before China will.
gabrial888
Japan has recently been obliged to participate in military drills with the US. SDF ships are navigating in the seas near other countries quite frequently. Closer military alignment with the USA means discomfort for Russia.
It's a weird empty performance every Japanese prime minister puts on saying "I'm determined to resolve northern island issues during my tenure." Japan is actually moving away from hammering out a deal with Russia. With hostility emanating from Japan, no wonder Russia is also more belligerent. It takes two to tango.
By design, Japan can't resolve territory issues. As long as the US forces are in Japan, it's menacing to Russia. It would be stupid for Russia to return those islands.
venze
Russia deploys missiles near Pacific islands claimed by Japan @japantoday:
It does appear Moscow has become real serious this time in spreading its military tentacles to its strategic border fronts here and there.
What is Russia up to?
Something rather unusual..
kennyG
Indeed. The violence, the threat, and the greed and the force are justice and always justified.
So why don't we all stop lip service
kennyG
It is suggested that you read up more on the backgrounds for both Japan and Soviet Union in concluding Non-Aggression Pact in 1941.
Peter14
It is easy to spot a hypocrite. They say something is wrong and you should not do it, then they turn around and do it themselves.
NATO can not set up defensive missile systems in NATO territory because it is a danger to
Russia and they would have to respond. But it is ok for Russia to set up missiles on the very border with Japan and Japan should not be concerned as it is no threat to them?
Yeah right. Japan needs to install its own missiles as close to Russian territory as they can get and NATO should go ahead with deployments in Poland and Romania if that is their need.
Russia is not to be trusted. They stole the Northern territories (Kurils) like a thief in the night at the end of WWII and are now arming them to the teeth.
Step up Japan and defend your northern border, it is being threatened by the Russian's. Apparently it is just fine to put missiles anywhere in your territory, as shown by Russia.
Ingvar
Really? Better let Wikipedia know. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Khalkhin_Gol
Ingvar
Say what? You think that would improve Japan's chances of gaining sovereignty over them? It would make the chances go from zero to -50. Even in a parallel universe wouldn't get them.
WA4TKG
There goes the neighborhood.
Desert Tortoise
Surface launched systems like that are sort of the poor mans replacement for long range bombers with long range missiles on them. A B-1B with 36 JASSM-XRs could stand off a good 1500 km and take care of all those Russian missiles on the Kuriles in a single sortie and, obtw, it would not be a nice ground based target for Russian missiles. It could fly in from Ellsworth AFB, do its job and fly back to the US. Same thing for the Russian Black Sea fleet. The USAF recently sent a pair of B-1Bs armed with LRASMs across Europe to the Black Sea just to let Ivan know that even if the Turks refused to let US warships through the Dardanelles and irrespective of all the S-400s emplaced on the Crimean Peninsula the US could still give their Black Sea Fleet a very bad day. Nine F/A-18s or F-15Js from Misawa armed with four JASSM-XRs each could do the same to those missiles on the Kurile Islands.
William77
Are you so naive to think that “Uncle Sam” can impose any territorial dispute to Russia?
They weren’t able to stop Russia to get back Crimea,they weren’t capable to keep a any form of stability in Iraq and especially in Afghanistan.
And you believe Uncle Sam can make Russia shake on his boots?
Maybe you watched to many Hollywood films.
Desert Tortoise
No. The non aggression treaty between Japan and the USSR expired on 8 August 1945 and the Soviets declared war the next day in accordance with their agreement with the US and UK to open a front against Japan in norther Asia. The Soviets taking the Kurile Islands was agreed to by the allies as part of their plan to defeat Japan and end the meat grinder of WWII. Too bad for Japan.
Eastman
Russia deploys missiles on its own soil.
You should realize that there is mistake in headline.
starpunk
And Japan's Constitution renounces war 'forever'.
The Ainu are now mostly on reserves in Hokkakaido now, aren't they? They used to rule all of Japan. Native/Aboriginal Japanese.
Russia won't return them, but they sure seem intent on flexing themselves militarily lately, never mind massing troops near the Ukraine and committing invisible combat thru cyberwar.
kennyG
Oh No. Non-aggression treaty was supposed to expire on April 25 1946 (5years from effective date April 24 1941, signed on April 13 1941) which should have been respected by Soviet Union even after Soviet had decided not to extend the treaty (with 1 year advance notice before each expiry date, which was done on
April 5 1941）
Read article 3
Eppee
How can people not recognize obvious sarcasm knowing the current Russian rhetoric with Ukraine ?!
diagonalslip
how dare they! （⌒▽⌒）
1glenn
If an invasion had been necessary to end the war, the USA would have accepted Soviet troops in the invasion, which would probably led to the division of the country into North and South, as with the Korean peninsula. As it turned out, the Kremlin wanted half of Japan as their right, but America, as the only nuclear power at that time, was able to say no.
Japan needs to spend the money to make itself militarily defensible. It is all well and good to hope that one's neighbors are peaceable, but it is wise to be able to defend one's self.
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
@ ossanAmerica
Your facts about the ancestry of the Ainu is incorrect.
I suggest you more deeply study genealogy .
mz16
Russia deploys missiles near their own territory.
Here, fixed it for you.
Kumagaijin
Airlines flying near these Islands should be extra careful. We all saw what happened to Malaysian Air Flight 17. Russian Surface-to-Air missile operators are trigger happy.
Alan Harrison
Russia deploys missiles near Pacific islands claimed by Japan
This so-called news a actually has the wrong headline. It should really read "Russia deploys missiles in her Eastern territory". I would say the Japans "claims" are not even relevant.
Baradzed
Ha-ha, you can clearly see that oil prices were too high for too long :)
WA4TKG
Is THIS the missile system they just put into service ? If it is, you have serious problems already.
https://www.dw.com/en/s-400-missile-system-what-is-it-and-why-does-turkey-want-it/a-49571650
miru
Reading through the comments, it's quite amusing to see how Japanese propaganda works. Poor politicians being hostages of territorial dispute over Northern territories have no guts to get over this issue and forego it for good. Instead military agenda is being played over and over again all over across its borders (Northern territories, Senkaku and Takeshima) like it was about 150 years ago. Just look at numbers and content of Japan annual military budget, despite of Article 9 of Constitution of Japan it's just whopping US$50bln (almost on a par with Russia) as if the country prepares for war. The crowd is being brainwashed too, perhaps this is the only way for political establishment to hold to its power and .
William77
Some of the right winger posters are really entertaining.
If an alien land to earth today and listen to their version of history it seems that Japan instead of fighting along with the Axis was an allied country and was bullied and victimized.
History can’t be changed and the modern georgraphy bears the consequences of the aggression that the axis committed.
Modern Germany and Italy learned to live with it so should this country.
Rob
In Norwegian Lapland, the Nazis, typical of fascists, burned pretty much everything they could before fleeing in the face of the Red Army. The Red Army fed the local people and slept out in the snow so the Norwegian women and children could sleep in the few remaining buildings not burned down.
The point is, it's very rarely reported in the 'free press' but the fact is to this day the Russians have a lot of friends everywhere the Red Army reached.