Experts: The issue of Russia and Japan not signing a peace treaty is more on the Japanese side than Russia

Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato expressed the policy of signing a Japan-Russia peace treaty in her policy speech. Dmitry Milyaev, a researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Sputnik News that if the treaty is signed, it will be a symbolic positive development in the relations between the two countries.

Milyaev said: "On one hand, this is the position repeatedly emphasized by Japanese prime ministers, and on the other hand, it is a long-standing topic of Japanese foreign policy. Ms. Takahashi Hayato, as an old member of the former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo team, has always been a firm successor to Abe's clear political line."

Milyaev pointed out that former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo had determined to promote the resolution of the peace treaty issue within the framework of Japanese foreign policy.

The expert pointed out: "There are two key factors here: first, to what extent Prime Minister Takahashi can consolidate her ruling position, and second, the future direction of Japan-US relations. It is an indisputable fact that the Japan-US alliance will continue to be the cornerstone of Japanese foreign policy, and all previous prime ministers have made clear statements on this, and Ms. Takahashi Hayato also made the same statement. On the other hand, in order to ensure Japan's military and energy security, Japan should pay attention to its contact with Russia. However, there remains a big question about how much Japan can advance in this direction."

Milyaev believes that the results of the meeting between Prime Minister Takahashi and US President Trump and whether both sides can reach a consensus may also have some impact on Russia-Japan relations.

He added: "It needs to be emphasized that the problem of the peace treaty not being signed for a long time is more on the Japanese side than on Russia. Of course, signing the treaty will be a symbolic milestone in Russia-Japan relations, helping to eliminate some psychological barriers. However, the past experience of relations between the two countries shows that even without a peace treaty, many agreements can be reached if there is political will. For the Japanese political circle, this document is an important symbol of confirming its status as a major world power, and they want to regard it as a diplomatic achievement rather than linking it to the history of defeat. But this will eventually involve re-examining the results of World War II. However, currently, the Russian domestic community does not show much interest in making concessions to Japan."

Russia and Japan have never signed a peace treaty since the end of World War II. Japan claims the four islands of the Southern Kurils - Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai - based on the bilateral trade boundary treaty signed between Russia and Japan in 1855, and makes the return of these four islands a condition for signing a peace treaty with Russia. Moscow's position is that the Southern Kurils have been incorporated into the Soviet territory according to the results of World War II, and Russia has undeniable sovereignty over them.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846907249829888/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.