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It's pretty delusional even in Japan, nobody seriously expects Russia to return them. Early in the post-Soviet era there were some serious-ish proposals about
by thematrixturtle 5y ago
It's pretty delusional even in Japan, nobody seriously expects Russia to return them. Early in the post-Soviet era there were some serious-ish proposals about Russia handing them back in exchange for massive financial aid, but ever since Putin took the reins it's been obvious that this is just not going to happen.
I don't think even the Japanese government wants them back at this point, Hokkaido (the nearest big island) is already rapidly depopulating and having to administer a bunch of semi-frozen islands with random Russian pensioners and no resources aside from fish would be a logistical nightmare and permanent drain on the treasury.
- _0w8t 5y agoPutin did return quite significant territories to China in 2008 to settle a dispute that resulted in a small-scale war in 1969, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Soviet_border_conflict https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Soviet_border_conflict .
- thematrixturtle 5y agoFair enough, but the geopolitics are quite different: China and Russia are (wary) allies and the agreement was more about agreeing where to draw the line than handing over war spoils.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- Timpy 5y agoI'm not a fishing expert but I think officially owning those islands would affect their Exclusive Economic Zone. If the fishing there is good they could turn a profit even if administering the islands costs some yen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_economic_zone#Japan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_economic_zone#Japan
- carlivar 5y agoAnd would that include whaling? If so, I'm opposed to this and hope the islands stay with Russia.