Japan concerned at possible Russian base on disputed island chain
TOKYO- Japan has conveyed its concern to Moscow over possible Russian plans to build a naval base on a western Pacific island chain, part of which are claimed by Tokyo, a top Japanese government spokesman said on Monday, the latest in a long-running territorial spat.
Tokyo's action follows Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu's comment last week that Russia would study the possibility of building a naval base on what it calls the Kurile islands. Besides the potential construction of a naval base, Japanese Defence Minister Shoigu also said last week that Russia would this year deploy some of its newest missile defence systems and drones on the Kurile islands.
Japan claims a southern segment of the island chain, which was seized by Soviet troops at the end of World War Two. The territorial row has kept the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty since. The disputed islands are called the Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kuriles in Russia.
"We've also told them that if this led to the reinforcement of Russian military infrastructure on the Northern Territories, that would be incompatible with Japan's stance and regrettable."
