Japanese fishing boat inspected by Russian side

According to reports, Japan regularly conducts fishing operations in the disputed South Chichi Islands with Russia every year. In this year's tense situation between Japan and Russia, the Russian side has stepped up its inspection work on Japanese fishing boats, and all 366 Japanese fishing boats have been inspected by the Russian side, and the Japanese side must provide documents related to the operations during the Russian inspection.

366 Japanese fishing boats were inspected by the Russian side

According to the report, since 1963, after the Japan-Russia negotiation, Japanese fishing boats every year in the South Thousand Islands near the sea kelp fishing operations. This year, under the influence of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Japan-Russia relations have gradually deteriorated, and the two sides have delayed the negotiation work, so the Russian side has also increased the supervision of Japanese fishing vessels. The Japanese side said that during the fishing period, the Russian police force intensified its inspection work and inspected a total of 366 fishing vessels, which is four times more than the number of times last year.

The Japanese media also said that within fifteen minutes of the Russian inspection, the Japanese side must provide documents related to fishing operations, and the Russian side will personally confirm whether the fishing vessels have caught items other than kelp. The Japanese side said that the Russian side has not arrested any Japanese personnel at the moment.

In fact, in June this year, the Russian side stated that it would suspend an agreement with Japan on the South Chichi Islands, prohibiting Japanese fishing vessels from fishing in the area. Russia said this was a response to Japan's failure to meet its financial obligations and that the response would continue until the Japanese side fulfilled its commitments. After the Russian side unilaterally announced the suspension of the agreement, Japanese fishing vessels will lose the right to fish in the area by the allocated quota. In response, the Japanese side said it will negotiate with the Russian side to protect the normal operation of Japanese fishing vessels.

Japan loses many powers in the South Chichi Islands

Japan has been following in the footsteps of its "big brother" the United States since the Russo-Ukrainian War, imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russia, causing relations between the two countries to deteriorate rapidly. In response to Japan's actions, Russia quickly responded by terminating negotiations with Japan to normalize relations and negotiate a peace agreement, which had been underway for more than 30 years, and shouted at the Japanese side to stop trying to take back the South Krill Islands.

In the military exercises held by Russia some time ago, the Russian side also directly covered the area of the military exercises to the South Chichi Islands, ignoring the Japanese protests. During the military exercises, the Russian military also demonstrated Russian anti-ship missile systems to the Chinese side in the disputed area and conducted strikes against targets set in the disputed area. In addition, the Russian side announced the termination of the "visa-free" exchange agreement with the Japanese side, and the Japanese aborigines will not be able to visit the island without a visa.

The Japanese side has always considered the resolution of the South Chichi Islands issue as one of its major goals, which is an important symbol of the normalization of relations between Japan and Russia. Despite the deterioration of relations between the two countries, Fumigation Dashiki has said that the Japanese side still upholds the attitude of resolving the territorial issue with the Russian side and intends to sign a peace treaty. However, the Russian side has repeatedly and forcefully stated that it will not negotiate with the Japanese side on this issue, and it can be said that it is the Japanese side that has buried this process with its own hands.

Japan blocked the possibility of recovering the South Krill Islands

Japan has blocked all possibilities of recovering the South Krill Islands at the cost of sanctions against Russia, a trend that is not in line with the Japanese side's intentions and long-term interests. Even so, Japan's current political environment does not allow it to take a position different from that of the United States, and it has to satisfy the U.S. needs at the expense of itself in many issues, i.e., Japan is extremely lacking in autonomy.

In addition, Japan has been expanding its military power, and there are signs of a resurgence of militarism in the country. Some time ago, Japan and Germany, two defeated countries in World War II, also extended their hands into the Asia-Pacific region and conducted joint military training, revealing their military ambitions. Recently, the Japanese side also said that it would conduct joint military exercises with the United States to strengthen the interoperability between the two countries and show the world the deterrence and dynamic offensive capabilities of the two countries militarizes.

After the incident in the South Chichi Islands, the Japanese side should also understand in time that following the United States will not bring it any benefits, whether before or now, the United States only "uses the value" in the eyes of the United States, there is no so-called "partnership", once Japan loses its use value. Once Japan loses its use value, it will become discarded by the U.S. side. The Japanese side will not only damage its interests but also mess up friendly relations with other countries, which will not be worth the loss in the end.