China Intervenes in Russia-Japan Territorial Dispute

The territorial dispute between Russia and Japan over the Kuril Islands has flared up again, following Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Iturup Island. Japan has protested, declaring that Iturup and three other southern Kuril islands are part of its territory.

In response, Russia asserts that the Kuril Islands are Russian territory and that its sovereignty over them is not open for discussion.

China has also reacted to the dispute between Moscow and Tokyo. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian called on Japan to respect the international order established after World War II. “China urges the Japanese side to uphold the international order established by international legal documents such as the Cairo and Potsdam Declarations after World War II,” he stated.

The spokesperson emphasized that Beijing advocates respecting and maintaining the results of World War II.