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This Week in AsiaPolitics

Will Putin’s Kuril Islands visit push Japan closer to Ukraine?

With its need for Russian gas limiting fresh sanctions, analysts say Tokyo has few economic weapons left to respond

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Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Sakhalin Region Governor Valery Limarenko (right) at an airport on Iturup Island, the largest of the Kuril Islands, last Thursday. Photo: Sputnik/Kremlin/AP
Russia’s Vladimir Putin tours Iturup on August 13, accompanied by Sakhalin region governor, Valery Limarenko, and regional Minister of Education Anastasia Kikteva. Photo: Sputnik/Reuters
Vladimir Putin interacts with residents of Iturup Island during his visit on August 13. Photo: AFP
Vladimir Putin visits a hospital in Kitovoye village on Iturup Island on August 13. Photo: Sputnik/Kremlin/AP
Vladimir Putin visits a fish processing factory on Iturup Island on August 13. Photo: AFP
Maria Siow
Japan is weighing how far to push back after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a disputed island last week, as analysts debate whether tougher measures would have much impact on Moscow.
Some observers urged Japan to recall its ambassador, impose additional sanctions and deepen cooperation with Ukraine to show it would not be “bullied”, while others said Tokyo had little economic leverage left given already weak bilateral ties and its reliance on Russian natural gas.

Putin made his first-ever visit to one of four disputed islands, collectively called the Northern Territories by Japan and the Southern Kurils by Russia, last Thursday.

Japanese media reported that senior foreign ministry officials discussed possible responses on Friday, including tougher sanctions and the temporary recall of Japan’s ambassador.

Akira Muto, Japan’s ambassador to Russia, arrives at the foreign ministry in Moscow on Tuesday after being summoned over Japanese officials’ criticism of Putin’s Kuril Islands visit. Photo: AFP
Akira Muto, Japan’s ambassador to Russia, arrives at the foreign ministry in Moscow on Tuesday after being summoned over Japanese officials’ criticism of Putin’s Kuril Islands visit. Photo: AFP
On Tuesday, Japan’s envoy to Moscow Akira Muto was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry after Tokyo protested against Putin’s visit.

During the meeting, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin warned that his country reserved the “right to take appropriate countermeasures” against Japan, given Tokyo’s continued policy of sanctioning Moscow and its support for Kyiv, according to the Russian foreign ministry.

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