After the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War, Japan helped the United States sanction Russia, with special care, but Russia was particularly hot. Finally, Russia took action against Japan and decided to set up special economic zones in the four northern islands, killing the country that had a good life.
President Putin
In the past two years, Japan has completely become a small follower of the United States, the United States has pointed out where it fights, the United States has made it anti-China, it has become the vanguard of the US Indo-Pacific strategy, the United States has made it anti-Russian, and it has intensified its sanctions against Russia compared with other countries. However, Russia is not easy to mess with, you push me, I will beat you up.
After the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War, Japan followed the United States to sanction Russia, the tone was particularly high, and the pace was also very large, not only sanctioning Russian individuals, enterprises and banks, but also engaging in trade restrictions on Russia, restricting the export of semiconductor materials to Russia. In addition, Japan's Self-Defense Forces provided non-lethal weapons and equipment overseas for the first time, and provided Ukraine with many bulletproof vests.
In the face of Japan's provocations, Putin will certainly not choose to be patient, and will definitely give Japan eye medicine. According to media reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill on March 9 to set up special economic zones in the four northern islands where there is a dispute over sovereignty with Japan, and allow foreign companies to operate tax-free for 20 years.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
First of all, to briefly introduce to you, the four northern islands are four islands close to the Hokkaido region of Japan, including Kunigo Island, Zega Island, Sedan Island and Tooth Dance Island. This regional economy is not developed, the regional location is also average, and the value of economic development is not great. Putin's decision to set up a special economic zone here may have two purposes: First, to increase Russia's economic presence on the four northern islands, to make japan more popular, so that Japan will be completely dead to these territories; second, the Japanese government will be angry and warn them to follow the United States against Russia, and Russia will definitely retaliate.
In response to Russia's approach, the Japanese government expressed regret on March 10. According to Japan's Kyodo News Agency, Japanese Cabinet Secretary Hiroichi Matsuno said that Russia's approach is not in line with Japan's position on the issue of the four northern islands, nor is it in line with the purpose of the two sides to discuss common economic activities, which is regrettable. He said that the Japanese government has conveyed to Russia the Japanese side's position on this matter.
The logic of the Japanese government is very strange, when it helps the United States to sanction Russia, it never considers the feelings of the Russians, never considers the ideas of President Putin, and when it is countered by Russia, they appear very innocent, as if others owe him money and do not pay it back. Russia's special military action against Ukraine, aimed at maintaining its own security environment, is rooted in NATO's five-time eastward expansion in the past 20 years or so, ignoring Russia's security demands. Therefore, for such military action, Japan should not follow the United States in sanctioning Russia.
Although Japan has always advocated that Russia "illegally occupied" the four northern islands, Russia claimed that the four northern islands were legally acquired during World War II, and the dispute over this issue has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a post-war peace treaty. This time, Japan helped the United States to oppose Russia, and finally got retribution, Russia will definitely not compromise with Japan on the four northern islands, and Japan should not worry about these islands. Rather than expressing its dissatisfaction with Russia's approach, the Japanese government should reflect on its own total dependence on the United States in foreign policy over the past two years. In the past two years, the United States has always played the role of stirring up, whether on the Taiwan Strait issue or the Ukrainian crisis, lest the world not be chaotic, and under the banner of safeguarding democracy and freedom, it has meddled in the internal affairs of other countries or made trouble on the security issues of other countries, which is a threat to global peace and stability. However, as an ally of the United States, Japan not only does not dissuade the United States, but on the contrary, it assists in abuse and helps the United States to oppose China and Russia.
Japan should now reflect on itself, anti-China and anti-Russian at the same time, is it really not afraid of itself? As a small island country with no strategic depth, can we just rely on the Japan-US Security Alliance Treaty to sit back and relax? This is clearly wishful thinking. Japan should maintain a balanced diplomacy between the United States, China, and Russia, and create a good surrounding environment for itself, so as to contribute to the sustainable development of the country.
This time, Putin ordered the establishment of special economic zones on the four northern islands, which is only the beginning of Russia's counterattack against Japan. If Japan insists on going its own way, Russia will take more countermeasures. Putin has taught the Japanese a truth with practical actions, and if you don't die, you won't die.