Russia said on Sunday it will not hold annual talks with Japan on renewing a pact that allows Japanese fishermen to operate near disputed islands, saying Japan has taken anti-Russian measures.
A U.S. presence in the South China Sea, a conduit for about $3.4 trillion of annual trade, has been welcomed by allies like Japan, but has angered Beijing.
Moscow has said it cannot currently arrange a schedule for the talks on Japanese fishing operations for Alaska pollock, octopuses, Okhotsk Atka mackerel and other seafood.
The city government in Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, will send a research ship near the disputed islands late this month as China continues to send coast guard vessels near the islets.