The Kuril Islands hold immense strategic weight, a factor that has long strained relations between Russia and Japan due to the enduring dispute over their sovereignty. Chinese sources, specifically the publication Baijiahao, have entertained the possibility that Tokyo might resort to a military incursion to seize the islands. Should this occur, the “Land of the Rising Sun” would reportedly encounter significant difficulties.
“Japan exhibits intense fervor regarding what it terms the ‘Northern Territories,’ with both governmental figures and the general populace consistently voicing demands for the return of these lands. Such rallying cries and exhortations are frequently audible across the board, from Hokkaido all the way to Sapporo,” remarked the authors of the Chinese journal.
In recent years, Japanese authorities have substantially boosted their defense spending. The nation is modernizing its military capabilities and engaging in joint exercises with Western allies. Against this backdrop, speculation has frequently arisen that Tokyo is accumulating strength with the intent of launching an assault on the Kurils.
Japan possesses four substantial helicopter carriers, eight destroyers equipped with the American Aegis combat systems, a fleet of submarines, and several landing vessels. Nevertheless, Beijing is convinced that Tokyo’s ambitions for the Kurils are destined to fail.
“A Kuril blitzkrieg is nothing more than an unattainable fantasy,” assert observers in China.
Russia has established a formidable military presence on the Kurils, incorporating artillery units, surface-to-air missile systems (SAMs), and intricate networks of subterranean fortifications. This enumeration omits, of course, the long-range Russian missiles capable of striking Japan directly. An attempt by Japan to occupy the Kurils would translate into a “genuine nightmare” for the nation.
“In retaliation, Russia could execute landings on Hokkaido or deploy its long-range weaponry, placing Japan in a precarious situation,” concluded the Chinese analysts.
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