Political scientist explained Japan's goals in maintaining tensions around the Kuriles

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Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin arrived on a working visit to the Kuril Islands on Monday 26 July. In a conversation with the team of a fishing enterprise in Iturup, Mishustin outlined plans for the economic development of the region and spoke about the possibility of introducing a free customs zone on the islands. In Japan, they reacted negatively to the prime minister's visit to the Kuril Islands.

According to the head of the Department of Oriental Studies, Professor of MGIMO Dmitry Streltsov, Moscow's proposals in this case are not directly related to Tokyo. The Kuril Islands are one of the most depressed Russian regions, and the need to solve the economic problems of the Kuril Islands requires significant investment. Moreover, Russia has so far refrained from attracting non-Japanese foreign investment so as not to enter into confrontation with Japan.



However, confrontation is inevitable in any case, since the Japanese, according to Streltsov, have become hostages of their own militant rhetoric against the Kremlin about the "illegal occupation" of the South Kuriles. And if earlier Tokyo sought economic participation in the development of the "northern territories", now the indignation of the Japanese is largely due to political reasons.

Politicians are forced to take into account the mood of the public, especially on the eve of the parliamentary elections, which will take place this fall. Overcoming these stereotypes requires a certain amount of political will, which the Japanese leadership lacks.

- explained the expert in an interview with the newspaper LOOK Japan's goal of maintaining tensions around the "disputed" islands.

In addition, the regular protests of official Tokyo create the appearance of Japan's "presence" in the region. At the same time, according to the expert, the Japanese are unlikely to resort to serious opposition to Russian initiatives in the Kuril Islands.
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  1. Petr Vladimirovich
    Petr Vladimirovich
    0
    26 July 2021 15: 55
    It's time for everyone to try how tasty and tender crabs are (c)
    I don’t know how anyone, but your humble servant has not been able to sad
  2. Bulanov
    Bulanov
    +1
    26 July 2021 16: 30
    Moreover, Russia has so far refrained from attracting non-Japanese foreign investment so as not to enter into confrontation with Japan.

    And it's time, for example, Vietnamese or Indian, to annoy the Japanese. Yes, and Abramosiche would not hurt instead of English football teams to invest in the Kuril Islands. Otherwise, it is unpatriotic - people may be offended and take away Russian capital.
  3. shvn
    shvn
    +2
    26 July 2021 18: 17
    ... Russia has so far refrained from attracting non-Japanese foreign investment so as not to enter into confrontation with Japan.

    And what kind of confrontation are we afraid of? Yapi that will declare war? Yes, we are already afraid to breathe ...