Japan protests over Russian exercises on disputed islands

The government of Japan has lodged a formal protest with the government of Russia over Russian war games on islands claimed by both countries, which has prevented both countries from signing of a formal peace treaty after World War II.

Russia calls the islands in question the Southern Kuriles, while Japan calls them the Northern Territories. Russia seized them from Japanese control at the end of World War II when Japanese military might was exhausted by years of fighting.

Reuters reports that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has described the military exercises as "totally unacceptable." As a result of this position, Japan made a "strong protest" at the Russian Embassy in Tokyo, wherein the Japanese described the exercises as "extremely regrettable."

The Russian news agency ITAR-TASS said the exercises would involve 1,000 troops and a hundred different pieces of military hardware and equipment. Five Mi-8AMTSh attack helicopters and a number of drones are also participating.

The contested territory consists of four different islands, Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and a group of islets known as the Habomais. The exercises are taking place on Etorofu and Kunashiri.

Reuters says that the United States supports Japan's claims to the islands, but did not have any comment on the recent military exercises.

The exercises may be in retaliation for the imposition of sanctions by Japan on Russia for its action in Ukraine. Those sanctions were made mostly to keep the United States, the military protector of Japan, happy. Reuters notes that those sanctions have been much less severe than anything imposed by the United States or Europe.

Before the events in Ukraine, Japanese and Russian relations seemed to be quite amiable. Abe had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin five times in the last year. At the same time, Japan's prime minister has not yet had a meeting with his counterparts in Japan or South Korea since taking office.