Dispute Over Kuril islands

Relevance: GS1 - Geographical Features & Their Location; GS2 - International Relations

(Source: Indian Express, 08/02/2023)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, the Kuril Islands dispute between Russia and Japan has gained attention amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
• In Japan, there is hope that the Russian and Ukraine war could give Japan a chance to take control of the disputed Kuril Islands.

About Kuril Islands

• The Kuril Islands are a volcanic archipelago administered as part of the Sakhalin Oblast in the Russian Far East.
• The islands stretch approximately 1,300 km northeast from Hokkaido in Japan to Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean.
• These are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire belt and have over 100 volcanoes.

Kuril Island Dispute

• It is a territorial dispute between Japan and Russia over the ownership of the four southernmost Kuril Islands.
• It is also known as the Northern Territories dispute in Japan.
• The South Kuril Islands comprise Etorofu island, Kunashiri island, Shikotan island and Habomai island.
• These islands are claimed by Japan but occupied by Russia.
• The Soviet Union had seized the islands at the end of World War II and by 1949 had expelled its Japanese residents.
• Tokyo claims that the disputed islands have been part of Japan since the early 19th century.

What are the Claims Asserted Over the Disputed Islands?

• Japan’s sovereignty over the islands is confirmed by several treaties:
  • Shimoda Treaty of 1855
  • 1875 Treaty for the exchange of Sakhalin for the Kuril Islands (Treaty of St. Petersburg).
  • Portsmouth Treaty of 1905 signed after the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-05 which Japan had won.
• Russia’s Claims:
  • Russia claims the Yalta Agreement (1945) and the Potsdam Declaration (1945) as proof of its sovereignty
  • The San Francisco Treaty of 1951 is legal evidence that Japan had acknowledged Russian sovereignty over the islands. Under Article 2 of the treaty, Japan had renounced all right, title and claim to the Kuril Islands.

Significance of Kuril Island

• The Kuril Islands hold significant natural resources, including abundant fishing grounds and potential offshore oil and gas reserves which makes them economically valuable.
• Russia has strategically deployed missile systems in the region, enhancing its military presence. The islands' strategic location is also crucial for Russia's plans to develop submarines and to prevent American military use in the area.
• The islands hold cultural significance, particularly for the Japanese people and conservative groups in Hokkaido.

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FAQs

MCQ

Question: With reference to Kuril Islands, consider the following statements:

1. These islands are claimed by Japan but occupied by Russia.
2. These are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire belt.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor