The Quarrel over the Kuril Islands

 Context 

Recently, the Japanese government described Kuril islands, which is known as Northern Territory in Japan and the Southern Kuril islands in Russia, as under “illegal occupation” by Russia. 

Location of Kuril Islands

Background 

This is the first time since almost two decades, the Japanese Bluebook of diplomacy for 2022 used the reference of “illegal occupation” for the Kuril islands which had been an area of concern between Russia and Japan since 2003. 

What are Kuril islands? 

  • These are a set of four islands located between the Northern Prefecture of Japan, Hokkaido and the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia. 
  • The islands are situated between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean. 
  • The islands belong to the Pacific Ring of Fire which is a highly unstable region with many active volcanoes. 
  • Post World War II, the disputed islands between Russia and Japan had been under the possession of Russia.

History of the disputed claims 

  • Japanese Claims 
    • According to the Japanese government, the island have been a territory of Japan as per various treaties like the 
      • Shimoda Treaty of 1855 which initiated diplomatic relations between both the nations and gave control of the four southernmost islands to Japan and the rest of the chain to Russia. 
      • The 1875 treaty for the exchange of Sakhalin for the Kuril islands, also known as the Treaty of St.Petersburg  
      • The Portsmouth Treaty of 1905, signed after the victory of Japan in the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-05. 
  • Russian Claims 
    • According to Russia the following claims adhere their sovereignty over the Kuril islands 
      •  Yalta agreement 1945 which led to repatriation of Japanese populace from the Kuril islands and replaced by Russians. 
      • Potsdam declaration 1945 
      • San Francisco Treaty of 1951 through which Japan legally adhered to the Russian claims over the island. 

Importance of the Kuril islands 

  • Economical benefits: The kuril islands are one of the major fishing grounds. 
  • Strategic benefits: The island is the place where Russia docks its one of the major fleet of naval vessels, the Pacific Fleet. 

Why the dispute? 

  • Japan doesn’t consider the San Francisco Treaty as legitimate as the Soviet Union never signed the peace treaty. 
  • Post World War II, Japan and Russia didn’t sign a peace treaty with each other. 
  • Hence, during a visit of the Japanese PM to Russia in 1956, it was agreed that once the peace treaty is signed, two of the four islands will be returned to Japan. Resolution steps taken 
  • During the term of Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, a joint economic development of the disputed islands have been explored. 
  • Then it was decided that the two countries will have bilateral negotiations based on the Japan-Soviet joint declaration 1956 with Russia returning the two islands of Shikotan and Habomai to the Japanese administration. 
Q. With reference to the Russia-Japan territorial claims which was recently in the news, consider the following statements: 

1. Kuril islands have been under the sovereignty of Japan since World War II. 

2. The Kuril islands lie in the Northern direction of the Kamchatka peninsula. 

3. Through the San Francisco Treaty of 1951 Japan legalized their claim over the Kuril islands. 

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect? 

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans. (d)

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