Regarding the Northern Territories, the government has made it clear that Russia is illegally occupying the territory peculiar to Japan in light of the situation in Ukraine.
Negotiations on a peace treaty with Russia are expected to become even more difficult.
Regarding the Northern Territories, the government has decided to refrain from answering the recognition of whether it is a "unique territory", saying that it may hinder peace treaty negotiations with Russia in 2019 during the Abe administration. I am.
However, as Russia's military invasion of Ukraine continues, Prime Minister Kishida said at the Diet on the 7th, "I don't remember using different terms, but in any case, it is a territory peculiar to Japan." I answered clearly with the expressions I had refrained from.
Foreign Minister Hayashi said at a meeting on the 8th, "Until now, we have used the expression'islands in which Japan has sovereignty'from a diplomatic point of view." I am not in a situation to say that, and I am saying that based on that, "he said, recognizing that it was based on the situation in Ukraine.
He also clarified his position on the Northern Territories, stating that "Russia's occupation of the Northern Territories is illegal in the sense that it has no legal basis."
It seems that the government is aiming to appeal to the international community for a principled way of thinking about the Northern Territories and not to allow unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force, making it even more difficult to negotiate a peace treaty with Russia. The situation is expected.