Japan's PM Ishiba vows to resolve territorial dispute with Russia

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has acknowledged that the relationship between Japan and Russia remains challenging but has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to resolving the ongoing territorial dispute and securing a peace treaty with Moscow.

“Japan-Russia relations are in a tough condition, but our country will persist in its course to resolve the territorial issue and sign a peace treaty,” Ishiba stated in his policy address to the National Diet, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

He reiterated this sentiment, which he had previously expressed in October during his first address to parliament since assuming office.

Despite the difficult diplomatic climate, Ishiba emphasized that Japan’s policy approach remains unchanged. He underscored the importance of continuing efforts towards a resolution of the territorial dispute that has long been a point of tension between the two nations.

In addition to foreign policy, the Prime Minister outlined measures to boost Japan’s financial commitment to investment and credit programmes for the current fiscal year. The government will allocate an additional 1.122 trillion yen (approximately $7.46 billion) to these initiatives.

Part of these funds will be directed towards supporting Ukraine, in collaboration with other G7 nations.

Notably, the Kuril Islands, a chain that stretches north across the Pacific Ocean from Japan’s Hokkaido to the southern tip of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, are the centre of a longstanding dispute between the two nations.

The four islands at the heart of this dispute — which Russia refers to as the Southern Kurils and Japan as the Northern Territories — have been contested for over six decades.

These islands are Kunashir (known as Kunashiri in Japanese), Iturup (Etorofu), Shikotan, and the rocky Habomai islets.

The southernmost islet in the Habomai group lies just a few kilometres from Nemuro, on Japan’s Hokkaido island.

As a result of this disagreement, Russia and Japan have yet to sign a peace treaty to officially end World War II.

By Aghakazim Guliyev