On August 8, Japan formally summoned a senior Russian diplomat in Tokyo to express strong protest over President Vladimir Putin's visit to the island chain over which the two countries have a sovereignty dispute.
According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, the move came shortly after reports emerged of the Russian leader's inspection trip to the islands, which Tokyo refers to as the Northern Territories and Moscow calls the Southern Kurils.
This is not the first time Japan has summoned Russian diplomatic officials to protest Moscow's activities in the disputed area. However, President Putin's direct visit is seen as a highly symbolic act, demonstrating Russia's firm stance on the sovereignty issue.
For its part, Russia has consistently asserted Moscow's sovereignty over the entire island chain and dismissed Japan's objections. The Russian government has not yet made an official comment on Japan's summoning of its diplomatic representative.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of already tense Japan-Russia relations, strained by various disagreements, including Tokyo's position on the conflict in Ukraine and the sanctions Japan has joined with the West against Russia.
The territorial dispute dates back to the end of World War II, when Soviet troops seized the islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai group. The two countries have never signed a formal post-war peace treaty due to disagreement over this issue.
