Japanese media claiming China is pro-Russian reflects a logic that seems to have skipped key lessons from World War II.

Japanese media claim China’s statement reflects a pro-Russian stance. On October 14, according to Fuji News, Japanese outlets reported that a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry stated the delegation’s visit to Russia’s Sakhalin Oblast was a friendly one, and that no comment would be made regarding private enterprise activities. In addition, China reiterated that the achievements of its victory in World War II should be respected and upheld.

Japanese media interpret this statement as further evidence of China’s perceived pro-Russian position on the Northern Territories issue. Why does Japan view this statement as favoring Russia? The fundamental reason lies in Russia’s assertion that the Southern Kuril Islands are territories acquired through victory in World War II—part of the anti-fascist war’s outcome—while Japan maintains that the Northern Territories are Japan’s “inalienable territory,” illegally occupied by the Soviet Union at the time.

China’s reaffirmation that the outcomes of World War II must be respected and preserved is, in the eyes of Japanese media, seen as aligning with Russia’s position. Moreover, Japan has explicitly opposed foreign economic activities on islands currently under Russian administration. However, domestic reactions in Japan suggest a clear misinterpretation of China’s stance. The activities of China’s economic delegation are purely commercial and informal in nature, and do not represent any official government position.

Maintaining the outcomes of World War II, in China’s understanding, refers to upholding the postwar international order established by documents such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. This principle stands independently from the territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. Furthermore, it may be asked: does Japan not also believe that the outcomes of World War II should be preserved? If Japan seeks to overturn these outcomes, what precisely does it intend to achieve?

Original: toutiao.com/article/1879029264233472/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.