Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

South Kuril Islands (Japan said that the four northern islands) location diagram

Sun Ye Fei

Editor’s note: New Year, Russia and Japan, “Southern Kuril Islands” increasingly fierce disputes; Thailand Jian border Yinbaiweixia Temple issue to Ran Zhanhuo; and just peace on the Korean Peninsula and turmoil, South Korea in the Yellow Sea during the deployment of a range of 1,500 km cruise missile … … all wars, conflicts, crises are due to competing interests, all War, conflict, crisis and are carried out within a certain space. Why are these areas so sensitive? A certain historical period, war, conflict or crisis, the existence of the geographic distribution of the characteristics and laws? If so, what is the reason to promote it? Starting from this issue, we are unique from the perspective of military geography, around the “Why is the world’s hot spots so hot,” published a series of articles to readers.

“the territory of Russia is the world’s largest country, but not an inch of territory is unnecessary.” Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s famous words are now becoming the national religion of most Russians.

from the end of 2010, Russia and Japan around the disputed islands, “the South Kuril Islands”, the Japanese call “the four northern islands,” Foreign conflict. Russia, from President Dmitry Medvedev, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, the largest delegation in history, are a strong landing, demonstrates Russia in the “Southern Kuril Islands” hard-line stance on the issue, also showed Russia “Southern Kuril Islands,” the actual control of the attitude increasingly clear.

Western Pacific north of the Kamchatka Peninsula and Hokkaido top Luopateka angle between the northeast corner of Na Shabu has a beaded island arc formed by island group. It connects the Kamchatka Peninsula and Hokkaido, Japan, the west by the Sea of ??Okhotsk, east Pacific, from the accounting Morijima, Sapporo feast island, new knowledge Island, urup Island and Etorofu Island, after the island country, Shikotan, Habomai Islands (after the four islands of Japan called “the four northern islands”) and other 56 islands with a total area of ??about 15,600 square kilometers. North and South Islands, stretching 1,300 kilometers, the island volcano horizon, the terrain rugged, winding coastline, steep.

Etorofu Island, the largest islands in the area of ??3139 square kilometers, the Gulf more than 10, can accommodate large ships.

history of the Russo-Japanese around the “Kuril Islands” launched a fierce fight. 1855, Russia signed the “Treaty and pro-flak”, agreed the “Kuril Islands” to urup Island is bounded to the south owned by Japan, go north of Russia, Sakhalin temporarily as outstanding. Which confirmed Japan’s “Southern Kuril Islands,” the possession relationship.

1875, the two countries signed the “Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Islands north of exchange Treaty”, the daily accounting for southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, Russia accounted for the northern phase exchange. 1905 Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese back for Russia’s Sakhalin Island to the south, and won a majority interest in the Far East Russia, all occupied the Kuril Islands.

1945 February, as the Soviet Union would send troops against the Japanese in return, the Soviet Union United States and Britain signed a secret agreement in Yalta, that the “Kuril Islands are to be handed over to the Soviet Union.” In August, the Soviet Union sent troops to the northeast, not only to regain the southern Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands has captured all.

under the “Yalta Agreement” with the Soviet Union to pay the entire Kuril Islands, the southern Kuril Islands, Etorofu, the country, the Shikotan, Habomai Islands will be assigned to the Soviet Union after the war, but Japan has not been recognized. Said today the Russo-Japanese territorial dispute refers Habomai, Shikotan, Etorofu and after the country’s ownership of four islands.

four islands total area of ??about 5,000 square kilometers, the Japanese call “the four northern islands,” Russia as “the South Kuril Islands.” Japan based on 1855 bilateral trade and border agreements signed, that the South Kuril Islands, four islands – Etorofu, the country, the Shikotan and Habomai their own territory. Moscow’s position is based on the results of the Second World War, the South Kuril Islands, the territory assigned to the Soviet Union, and Russia is the legal successor of the Soviet Union, Russia has sovereignty over it.

In fact, the Soviet Union in the territory of Japan did not start on a tough issue. Stalin feared that Soviet Far East by the United States and its allies in the siege, so the one hand, insisted that the country, the Etorofu two islands belong to the Soviet Union, on the other hand expressed their willingness to return “Southern Kuril Islands” in the other two, namely Shikotan, tooth dance the two islands, but only Japan should sign a peace treaty with Russia, and acknowledge the ownership of the other islands.

Since then, with the founding of new China, the East-West balance of power in the Far East, a fundamental change. US-Japan military alliance, especially after the signing of the Treaty, the Soviet Union in the territorial issue with Japan to take a hard line.

present, both sides in the disputed territory, most of the control of the hands of Russia. Over the years, with a strong Russian military strength, hold border talks with neighboring countries, has been pursuing a “actual control” of the negotiations policy. To hold the “Southern Kuril Islands”, Russia canceled the gradual demilitarization of the region’s commitment. Russia last July in the implementation of Etorofu Island after the disintegration of the Soviet Union’s largest military exercises.

Overall, the heavy burden of history, territorial issues in the negotiations with neighboring countries, the Russians have a special sensitivity.

the traditional territory of the Russian view, the capture and defense of the sea has an important position. To capture the sea, 300 years Russia launched countless wars. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia faces the risk of re-lost sea. For the control of the Black Sea to the sea, Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea Fleet on the long-term ownership of the contest.

Russian people are very clear, once the “Southern Kuril Islands,” returned to Japan, the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet into the Pacific exports will be blocked, so the Russian military strongly opposed to the “Southern Kuril Islands” was returned to Japan .

Russian General Staff, said the documents submitted, “the South Kuril Islands,” not only to expand the scope of Russia’s defense, to ensure that the Far East Kamchatka Peninsula to the safety of maritime transport channel, but also to protect irreplaceable Pacific Fleet role. Once Japan’s possession, “the four northern islands” and would pose a serious threat to Russia’s security, deterioration of the strategic situation.

since ancient times, the island’s strategic value is not only economic interests, it is a national strategic barrier, Russia insists on the “Southern Kuril Islands’ sovereignty, of course, there are deep-seated reasons.

First, from the map, “Kuril Islands” is the Russian Far East’s most important strategic barrier to Russia several large islands, such as the Kamchatka Peninsula, Sakhalin Island can be “Kuril Islands “The screen protection.

Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s nuclear weapons test site, Sakhalin in Russia’s strategic missile bases. From Sakhalin launch strategic missiles flying over Alaska, the closest to reach the United States. From this point of view, the Kamchatka Peninsula and Sakhalin Island are the core of Russian strategic counter-attack, “Kuril Islands” is the screen to protect the periphery of these strategies to fence.

Secondly, the “Southern Kuril Islands” is an important defense of the Russian Far East naval and air bases and contain Japan’s strategic location, can play defense from the Sea of ??Okhotsk from the Pacific to attack Russia in terms of barrier role.

with “Southern Kuril Islands” For Russia, Japan and the U.S. is to have a favorable strategic situation, it is like a potential enemy in the throat on top of a steel knife, to the enormous threat to the U.S. and Japan . It not only allows free access to Russia between the Sea of ??Okhotsk and the Pacific, and the “Southern Kuril Islands” and Sakhalin Island (Sakhalin) and the southern tip of echoes, is closed north of Japan and the U.S. attack on the most favorable forward position. “Southern Kuril Islands,” and with the coastal region Khabarovsk form horn trend, Japan completely closed all channels into the Sea of ??Okhotsk.

there, “Southern Kuril Islands” Russia is left of the importance of free access to the sea channel. Climatic conditions from the point of view, the Russian Far East, many ports throughout the winter to be frozen, however, due to the impact of warm Sea of ??Japan, in the “Southern Kuril Islands,” there are a number of year-round navigable natural harbor.

course, “the four northern islands” for Japan also has important strategic value, it is actually a screen protecting the northern end of Hokkaido, Japan, the importance of safety protection. “The four northern islands,” the hands of the Soviets fell, the Japanese have felt very uncomfortable. If Russia continues to strengthen its military presence here is a great form of Japan’s strategic threat.

for “Kuril Islands”, Stalin said: “They use the blood of countless Soviet soldiers in exchange for booty, who have no right to put them away.” November 1 last year, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has used his feet confirmed Stalin’s declaration – “Southern Kuril Islands” is still under the effective control of Russia.

the Japanese government put the year on February 7 as the “Northern Territories Day” to promote the recovery of the Northern Territory campaign. Since 1981, every year on February 7, held in Tokyo, the Japanese government should demand the return of the Northern Territory National Convention. Can be expected, the Russo-Japanese territorial issues around the struggle of this will continue.