Japan protests Chinese delegation's visit to disputed Russian-held islands

Japan on Wednesday protested a rare visit by a Chinese delegation to Russian-controlled islands Tokyo claims are disputed, amid growing tensions over the territory, according to media reports.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told parliament that Tokyo had lodged diplomatic protests with Beijing and Moscow because of the visit, Bloomberg reported.

“We believe it is completely unacceptable for government officials, business representatives or others from third countries to enter and conduct activities in the Northern Territories in a manner that treats them as though they were Russian territory,” said Motegi.

He said Japan conveyed its position to Russia and China through diplomatic channels on Tuesday, urging both to respond appropriately.

Officials and business representatives from China's northeastern Heilongjiang province visited Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, earlier this month to assess potential tourism and aquaculture projects, according to Russian regional authorities.

The visit followed Russian President Vladimir Putin's first trip to the disputed island in August, which Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned as unacceptable.

Tokyo maintains that the Northern Territories, consisting of Iturup, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai islet group, were “illegally” seized by the now-defunct Soviet Union soon after Japan’s surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945.

Russia argues that the seizure was legitimate.

The territorial dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty since World War II. Tensions have deepened in recent years amid Japan’s sanctions against Moscow for the Russia-Ukraine war.