World News
Japan protests Russian missile drills in disputed Kuril Islands
Tokyo condemns live-fire exercises on Etorofu following a recent visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The short version
- Japan protested live-fire missile tests conducted by the Russian navy around disputed islands known as the Northern Territories in Japan and the Kuril Islands in Russia.
- Russia's Pacific Fleet launched Bastion surface-to-ship missiles from Etorofu as part of large-scale regional military exercises running through August 29.
- Tensions between Tokyo and Moscow remain elevated following Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to the disputed territory.
Key facts
- Russia's Pacific Fleet announced it fired Bastion surface-to-ship missiles from Etorofu, striking simulated targets approximately 300 kilometers away.[The Guardian]
- Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that Japan cannot tolerate actions that strengthen military infrastructure on the contested islands.[The Guardian]
- According to Russian state news agency Tass, the military exercises include roughly 60 vessels, 30 aircraft, and over 13,000 personnel, running from August 4 to August 29.[The Guardian]
- Russian President Vladimir Putin observed naval drills aboard the cruiser Varyag on August 12 and made his first visit to Etorofu.[The Guardian]
- The Soviet Union seized the disputed island chain from Japan at the end of World War II, and sovereignty remains contested.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The full operational scope of future military deployments to the disputed islands remains unconfirmed beyond the scheduled end of drills on August 29.[The Guardian]
Sources
- Russia’s missile tests around disputed islands anger JapanThe Guardian - World