Indian Council of World Affairs

Introduction 

On 8th May 2024, Russia banned foreign ships, particularly from Japan, from entering the seaport near Kuril Islands.[i]  Situated in the Sea of Okhotsk, the Kuril Island comprises of a chain of 56 islands, of which the islands of Etorofu, Habomai, Kunashiri and Shikotan are disputed between Russia and Japan since the Second World War. [ii] [iii]

The Kuril Islands are strategically located and is also a significant source of hydrocarbon reservoirs.[iv] This region is also important for Russia as its navy, the Russian Far Eastern Fleet, also known as the Russian Pacific Fleet, is based in Vladivostok. Russia's strategic interest in the Kuril Islands also rises from the export of inland energy resources from Siberia and far eastern Russia through the Arctic Sea route and the Sea Lanes of Communication in the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The Kuril Islands is important to Japan mainly for fishing in and around the island waters.[v]

Historical Background 

The dispute between Russia and Japan over the four Kuril Islands goes back to the Mid -19th century.[vi]   The Treaty of Shimoda in 1855, demarcated the Japanese and the Imperial Russian territories in the Sea of Okhotsk. This treaty has demarcated the whole of the Kuril Island chain including the four islands of Etorofu, Habomai, Kunashiri and Shikotan to Japan. However, during World War Ⅱ, in the Yalta Conference the Allied powers agreed that the Kuril Islands was to be a part of the Soviet Union. Resultantly, the Soviet forces began their amphibious landings and incorporated the Kuril Islands as part of the Soviet Union.[vii]     

During the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco, where Japan had renounced all claims to territories it had occupied during the World War Ⅱ, but the status of the four islands of the South Kuril chain was left undefined as the Soviet Union was not a signatory to this treaty.[viii]  In 1956 when   diplomatic relations were restored between the Soviet Union and Japan, Moscow was considering the possibility of returning Habomai and Shikotan, the two of the four Kuril Islands to Japan, however, this did not materialise. 

In the post-Soviet era, the Tokyo Declaration of 1993, was signed, in which both sides aimed to resolve their dispute over the islands through diplomatic means.[ix]  As a result of the 1993 Declaration, in 1998 Russia provided licensed fishing rights to Japanese fishermen in and around the waters of the Kuril Islands, including the disputed ones. Even as discussion were underway, tensions escalated in 2010 when the then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev paid a visit to the disputed islands that triggered Japanese response, this was the first visit by any Russian leader to this island at any point in time in history.[x]

In March 2020, the Constitution of Russia was amended to include Article 67, which mentions that Russia has control over the ocean areas next to its land and they make rules on the usage of these areas, following both their own laws and international rules. It also goes on to say, the borders between the different parts of Russia can change, but only if the subjects involved agree with each other. Thus, resulting in Russia ending any further negotiations on the four disputed islands.[xi]

Latest Developments 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s approach towards Russia has shifted due to the Ukraine crisis.[xii] Japan along with the West had imposed sanctions on Russia and has also extended non -military aid to Ukraine.[xiii] Due to this position of Japan, Russia has hardened its stance on the Northern territories of the Kuril Island issue and renamed the Commemoration of 3rd September 2023, which marked the Kuril Island integration as the “Day of Victory over Militaristic Japan” to stir anti- Japanese sentiment. 

On the other hand, on February 7th, 2024, while participating in the annual event commemorating Northern Territories Day, a ceremony for Japanese people to gather to demand for the return of Kuril Island territories, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged to retrieve the islands.[xiv]

Thus, the positions on either side on the territorial issue have seen recent hardening. 

Conclusion 

The Kuril Islands dispute is not just a territorial dispute between Russia and Japan but reflects the larger complexity of geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific Region. The Islands are not just a feature in the Sea of Okhotsk but also is the gate for Russian eastwards maritime outreach. This is the launch pad for the maritime outreach through the Arctic Sea/ Northern Sea Route and provides access to the Asia- Pacific region, that is the Indo – Pacific region. 

These Islands play an important role in Russia’s plans for Asia – Pacific maritime outreach and this is to counter the influence of the United States in this region as Japan is a treaty ally of Washington. Thus, this can be considered as Russia challenging US hegemony.  

Thus, the nature of dispute in the Kuril Islands impacts Japan’s Indo – Pacific out look to begin with but affect the larger Indo – Pacific allies which adds another layer of complexity to the larger evolving Indo - Pacific Region.

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*R. Ajitesh, Research Intern, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal.

Endnotes

[i] Chermaine Lee, “Japan-Russia Tensions Flare Over Ukraine War Amid Decades-long Land Disputes,” Voice of America, May 8, 2024, https://www.voanews.com/a/japan-russia-tensions-flare-over-ukraine-war-amid-decades-long-land-disputes/7602490.html, accessed on July 13,2024

[ii] Bruce A. Elleman, Michael R. Nichols, and Matthew J. Ouimet. “A Historical Reevaluation of America’s Role in the Kuril Islands Dispute.” Pacific Affairs 71, no. 4 (1998): 489–504. https://doi.org/10.2307/2761081, accessed on June 10, 2024

[iii] Kaczynski, Vlad M. "The Kuril Islands Dispute Between Russia and Japan: Perspectives of Three Ocean Powers." Russia's Foreign Policy: Key Regions and Issues 79 (2007). https://epub.sub.uni-hamburg.de/epub/volltexte/2008/373/pdf/russiassfsoAP87.pdf#page=79, accessed on June 16,2024

[iv] Orttung, Robert, Jeronim Perović, Heiko Pleines, and Hans-Henning Schröder. "Russia’s foreign policy: key regions and issues." Arbeitspapiere und Materialien/Forschungsstelle Osteuropa, Bremen= Working papers of the Research Centre for East European Studies, Bremen 87 (2007). https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/62791/1/Perovic_Russia_foreign_policy.pdf, accessed on June 13,2024

[v] Pessoa, Carolina. “The Kuril Islands dispute.” ResearchGate, October 1, 2020. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348565115_The_Kuril_Islands_dispute, accessed on June 17,2024

[vi] Bruce A. Elleman, Michael R. Nichols, and Matthew J. Ouimet. “A Historical Reevaluation of America’s Role in the Kuril Islands Dispute.” Pacific Affairs 71, no. 4 (1998): 489–504. https://doi.org/10.2307/2761081. accessed on June 10, 2024

[vii] Orttung, Robert, Jeronim Perović, Heiko Pleines, and Hans-Henning Schröder. "Russia’s foreign policy: key regions and issues." Arbeitspapiere und Materialien/Forschungsstelle Osteuropa, Bremen= Working papers of the Research Centre for East European Studies, Bremen 87 (2007). https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/62791/1/Perovic_Russia_foreign_policy.pdf. accessed on June 13,2024

[viii] Bruce A. Elleman, Michael R. Nichols, and Matthew J. Ouimet. “A Historical Reevaluation of America’s Role in the Kuril Islands Dispute.” Pacific Affairs 71, no. 4 (1998): 489–504. https://doi.org/10.2307/2761081. accessed on June 10, 2024

[ix] Zinberg, Yakov. "The Kuril Islands dispute: towards dual sovereignty." Boundary and Security Bulletin 5 (1998): 89-98. https://www.durham.ac.uk/media/durham-university/research-/research-centres/ibru-centre-for-borders-research/maps-and-databases/publications-database/boundary-amp-security-bulletins/bsb5-4_zinberg.pdf, accessed on June 13,2024

[x] Kato, Mihoko. "Japan and Russia at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century: New Dimension to Maritime Security Surrounding The ‘Kuril Islands"." Revista UNISCI 32 (2013): 205-213. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/767/76727454010.pdf, accessed on June 17,2024

[xi] Bosack, “Geopolitical chess: Unpacking the Northern Territories conundrum,” Japan Times, February 13, 2024, , https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2024/02/13/japan/japans-northern-territories/. accessed June 20, 2024

[xii] Kapur, K. D. "Russia–Japan Relations: Politico-strategic Importance of the Disputed Southern Hokkaidoe Islands/Northern Territories." India Quarterly 68, no. 4 (2012): 385-405. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0974928412467250?casa_token=4E0YXo3_-sAAAAAA%3APz4jStM7lNAO5rUSIWB-whA1wyNmqyk3584BXU6GGb5B24vX4Bd3uaIMamEmG-GtR0_9Wzv9KkM, accessed on July 15,2024

[xiii] Pessoa, Carolina. “The Kuril Islands dispute.” ResearchGate, October 1, 2020. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348565115_The_Kuril_Islands_dispute, accessed on June 17,2024

[xiv] Chermaine Lee, “Japan-Russia Tensions Flare Over Ukraine War Amid Decades-long Land Disputes,” Voice of America, May 8, 2024, https://www.voanews.com/a/japan-russia-tensions-flare-over-ukraine-war-amid-decades-long-land-disputes/7602490.html, accessed June 20, 2024