The owner of the islands will not change

After Japan's defeat in the Second World War, the Kuril Islands - Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, belonging to it, came under the control of the former USSR. Some time after the war, negotiations between Tokyo and Moscow began. In the 1960s, the then leadership of the USSR agreed to return two of the Kuril Islands to Japan in exchange for a peace treaty with Tokyo. But later there was a change of power in the USSR and the Kremlin forgot its promise.

After the collapse of the USSR, Tokyo started negotiations with Russia, which gained its independence. Russia's first president, Boris Yeltsin, was close to reaching an agreement with Tokyo over the islands. But Yeltsin's entourage did not allow it. After Vladimir Putin was elected president, he continued negotiations with Tokyo. However, unlike Yeltsin, Putin was not ready to compromise on the islands. Negotiations were not successful. Nevertheless, the dialogue between Tokyo and Moscow continued, economic relations and trade between the two countries expanded. The war of aggression launched by Russia against Ukraine also had a negative impact on relations with Japan.

Japan joined a series of Western sanctions against Russia, which negatively affected economic and trade relations. In addition, according to the clause added to the Constitution in the referendum held in Russia, land concessions were prohibited. This meant that Russia was legally prohibited from returning the islands to Japan. That is, even if Putin and others want to return the Kuril Islands to Japan one day, they will not be able to do so. The constitution prohibits the president from returning the Kuril Islands to Japan. After that, Tokyo realized that it was pointless to continue the dialogue with Moscow about the future fate of the islands.

Meanwhile, China also changed its position regarding the Kuril Islands in favor of Russia. For many years, China pursued a neutral policy on the Kuril Islands. Tensions on the border between China and the former USSR occurred in 1964. Starting from that year, Beijing refused to support Moscow's position on the Kuril Islands issue. China's then leader Mao Zedong actually supported Japan's policy on the islands. For many years, Beijing did not express a position regarding the Kuril Islands. However, after 59 years, Beijing changed its position in favor of Moscow. Chinese leader Xi Jinping said after the meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow that he will no longer support Japan's position on the Kuril Islands issue.

"Atlas" Research Center