China, Russia team up on territorial claims

Seima Oki and Kyoko Yamaguchi / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondents

BEIJING--China and Russia are presenting a united front in their claims over Japanese territories through a joint statement on World War II, with China eager to increase pressure on Japan after an incident near the Senkaku Islands, and Russia hoping to curry favor with Beijing as it eyes its neighbor's huge appetite for energy.

The intent of the statement was apparently to cement their claims to sovereignty over two disputed areas--the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture and the northern territories off Hokkaido.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao signed the joint statement Monday in China. By doing so, the two leaders sought to emphasize their cooperation based on a shared view of history regarding the victory over Japan. The two sides also signed a joint statement to strengthen their strategic partnership.

China wants to increase pressure on Japan over the arrest and detention of the captain of a Chinese fishing boat that collided with Japan Coast Guard patrol ships off the Senkaku Islands. Russia's signing of the joint statement shows it has chosen to join hands with China in advancing its claim over the northern territories.

The Senkaku Islands are located in Okinawa Prefecture in the East China Sea, while the northern territories--three islands and a group of islets--are located off eastern Hokkaido.

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China requested statement

At the beginning of their summit, Hu praised Medvedev's visit to a cemetery for Soviet soldiers who fought against Japan during the Russo-Japanese War and World War II in the Lushun district of Dalian, Liaoning Province, on Sunday.

Hu was all smiles during the talks, a sharp contrast to the serious demeanor of Premier Wen Jiabao last week in New York when he strongly criticized Japan over the Senkaku incident.

According to sources, China proposed the joint statement on the World War II anniversary. When Hu attended a memorial ceremony in Moscow in May to mark the victory over Germany, he made inquiries about forming a common recognition of World War II history, including battles against Japan, the sources said.

Despite concerns expressed by Japan, Russia enacted a day commemorating victory over Japan as a gesture toward China. In July, Medvedev officially designated Sept. 2 as the day memorializing the end of World War II. Japan signed a document of unconditional surrender on Sept. 2, 1945.

However, Japan actually surrendered on Aug. 15, which is the day this country recognizes as the end of World War II. Even after Japan's surrender, the Soviet Union continued combat operations and occupied Minami-Karafuto (now southern Sakhalin), the Chishima Islands (now the Kuril Islands) and the northern territories--Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan islands and the Habomai group of islets.

After the collision incident near the Senkaku Islands, China stepped up its requests to Russia to agree to the announcement of the statement, clearly indicating it wanted to to use the diplomatic declaration to pressure Japan, the sources said.

The joint statement reportedly accuses Japan of "fabricating history." Japan made the Senkaku Islands its territory in the late 19th century, after confirming the Qing government did not control the islands. However, China sees this as a fabrication, and argues that Japan stole the islands during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95.

In the late 1970s, China, then led by Deng Xiaoping, was in opposition to the Soviet Union as it drew closer to Japan and the United States. At the time, China expressed support for Japan's claims over the northern territories. However, after ties with the the Soviet Union were normalized in 1989, China has not expressed an opinion on the matter.

In addition, Japan's importance to China has declined considerably. According to diplomatic sources, the Hu administration now sees relations with Russia as much more important than relations with Japan, despite the latter's importance as a source of technological and financial assistance. Russia's importance stems from its energy reserves, which China needs to sustain economic development.

The joint statement on the war is another example, in addition to the visits to Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese leaders, of China using its history claims as a diplomatic card.

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China's flip-flop

In the past, Chinese leaders have supported Japan's position on territorial issues, and have even said the Senkaku issue should be shelved.

Deng commented on the Senkaku issue in a press conference on a visit to Japan in October 1978 as vice premier. "Both nations should set aside the Daioyu [Senkaku] Islands] issue...even for 10 years. Probably the next generation will be more clever than we are and will find a practical solution acceptable to everyone," Deng said.

On the northern territories, then Chinese Premier Li Peng told then Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita in April 1989 on a visit to Japan that China would support Japan's demand that Russia return the northern territories, and that China thought the claim justifiable, as it had in the past.

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Russia seeking export market

For Russia, the most important goal of the joint statement is to increase exports of energy resources.

Russia is subconsciously aware that the increasing population, emerging economic power and military expansion of its neighbor poses a potential threat. Sharing a common view of history can help Russia demonstrate its willingness to associate with China, while maintaining its sense of alertness. With this in mind, China's offer of the joint statement was convenient for Russia.

At present, Russia is worried over its natural gas exports to Europe.

The country sent "a large delegation of senior officials and business tycoons," according to China's official Xinhua News Agency, and signed 10 documents promising improved relations in the economic sphere, including a basic agreement on exports of oil and natural gas via pipelines.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, who accompanied the delegation, openly expressed his country's hopes of entering the huge Chinese market, saying "We're ready to satisfy China's entire demand for natural gas."

However, the joint declaration on World War II is not directly related to the Senkaku dispute.

"The Senkaku problem shouldn't be linked to the results of World War II," said Sergei Luzyanin, deputy director of the Institute for the Far East at the Russian Academy of Sciences, an expert on Chinese politics.

Russia justifies its occupation of the northern territories based on its victory over Japan in World War II. Confirming its position as a "victor country" together with China could be part of efforts to debunk Japan's claim over the four islands.

Therefore, concerns are growing that Russia will take a tougher stance on the northern islands issue from here on out.

(Yamaguchi is a Moscow correspondent.)