Japan will once again describe Russia's decades-long hold over a string of disputed northern islands as an "illegal occupation" in an annual foreign policy report, according to a draft, as bilateral ties sour following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The classification will appear for the first time since 2003, reflecting Tokyo's…
Japan will officially describe the Northern Territories as under the “illegal occupation” of Russia, reviving an expression that was dropped after 2003.
Japan will once again describe Russia s decades-long hold over a string of disputed northern islands as an "illegal occupation" in an annual foreign policy report, a draft showed on March 31, as bilateral ties sour following Moscow s invasion of Ukraine.
Japan revived its stronger wording concerning the disputed Northern Territories after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, essentially ending Tokyo’s policy of avoiding expressions that could antagonize Moscow in negotiations for the isles.