Russia has intensified tensions with Japan by detaining a Japanese journalist in Sakhalin on espionage charges and promoting Chinese investment on Etorofu Island, part of the disputed Kuril Islands. This follows President Vladimir Putin's first visit to Etorofu in August, which has been accompanied by missile drills and the installation of a victory monument that provoked Japan.
The recent friction began with Putin's visit to Etorofu on August 13. The southern Kuril Islands, including Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, along with the Habomai Islands, are under Russian control, but Japan claims them as the 'Northern Territories' and demands their return. Despite strong protests from the Japanese government, Russia announced missile launch drills around Etorofu on August 20. On September 4, a victory monument was erected in Khabarovsk, depicting a former Soviet soldier destroying a plaque featuring Japan's national flower, the chrysanthemum. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi demanded its removal.
The standoff continued into October. On October 2, Japan imposed additional sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, prohibiting services such as insurance for 35 vessels involved in sanctions evasion. This marked the first round of sanctions against Russia since Takaichi's cabinet took office. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, criticized Japan on October 5 for prioritizing alignment with the U.S. and Europe over its national interests, warning of corresponding measures in areas important to Japan.
On October 13, the Sakhalin regional government announced that officials and business representatives from China's Heilongjiang Province visited Etorofu. According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, they explored potential sites for tourism facilities and expressed interest in hotel projects and sea urchin and sea cucumber farming. Russia has encouraged Chinese investment by offering tax exemptions for up to 20 years. Specific details about the visit, including dates and participant numbers, were not disclosed.
The Asahi Shimbun reported that it is unusual for a third-country delegation to visit the Northern Territories. Russia and Japan agreed in a 2016 summit to discuss joint economic activities in these islands, and in the following year, they identified potential projects in aquaculture and tourism. However, discussions were halted after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Facing sanctions from the U.S. and Europe, Russia has increased its economic reliance on China and has aligned politically with China, which has criticized the Takaichi administration. There is a possibility that Russia may further strengthen its hardline stance against Japan in coordination with China.
China has also shown support for Russia. Following Putin's visit to Etorofu, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that the achievements of the victory in the global anti-fascist war (World War II) must be respected and upheld. China and Russia have condemned Japan's defense policies under the Takaichi administration as 'new militarism' and have continued military pressure around Japan.
Amid these developments, the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) announced on October 13 that it had detained a journalist from the Hokkaido Shimbun's Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk bureau on espionage charges. The FSB claims the journalist collected information about soldiers and support personnel mobilized for the Ukraine war under the direction of Japanese intelligence agencies, although no evidence has been presented to support this claim. The journalist was detained the day before their scheduled departure and has been transferred to Moscow, where a Moscow court has authorized a two-month detention until December 12. If convicted, the journalist could face a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years under Russian law. The Japanese embassy in Russia and Hokkaido Shimbun are currently verifying the facts.
In 2019, a Kyodo News journalist was detained on suspicion of obtaining military secrets but was released after about five hours. In 2022, a Japanese consulate employee was temporarily detained and then expelled. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun noted that this incident shares similarities with the detention of a Wall Street Journal journalist in 2023, who was transferred to Moscow on espionage charges and released 16 months later in a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia. The newspaper suggested that the detained journalist's status as a formally registered correspondent with the Russian Foreign Ministry indicates a significant involvement of central authorities, viewing the detention as part of Russia's intensified pressure on Japan.
Zakharova claimed on October 13 that Japan has been using journalists to gather information that undermines Russia's security. She added that this is not an isolated case and called for Japan to reconsider its policy toward Russia. She also argued that Japan's anti-Russian stance and rearmament efforts have led to a deterioration in bilateral relations since the invasion of Ukraine. Independent Russian media, such as Meduza, connected the timing of the journalist's detention to Japan's recent arrest of a Russian national identified as a key member of a ransomware organization, who was subsequently handed over to Germany.
Japan currently has limited options to respond. Prime Minister Takaichi stated on October 13 that Japan is verifying the facts regarding the Chinese delegation's visit and will take appropriate measures based on its findings. Japan maintains that it does not recognize the entry of third countries into disputed areas under Russian jurisdiction or their economic activities there. During Putin's visit in August, Japan also refrained from taking strong measures. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan recalled its ambassador to Russia for a brief period following then-President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Kunashiri in 2010, but decided against a similar move in August, believing it would have little effect on changing Russia's stance and could worsen the situation. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also stated last month that he does not consider recalling the ambassador.
Japan is also burdened by the need to maintain energy supplies from Russia and channels for dialogue. According to Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, about 10% of Japan's liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports last year came from Russia, and Japanese companies hold stakes in the Sakhalin-2 oil and gas development project in Russia's Far East.
The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that amid worsening conditions in the Middle East, officials from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry visited Russia in May to explore expanding imports of Russian energy. Japan also resumed short-term exchanges of students and others to Russia in August after a seven-year hiatus.
Keio University professor Michito Tsuruoka pointed out in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun that if Japan fails to take necessary actions regarding territorial and sovereignty issues due to its reliance on LNG supplies from Russia, it would be a case of putting the cart before the horse. He warned that if there are no separate actions from Japan in response to Putin's visit to the Northern Territories, the threshold for future visits will be lowered.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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