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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Russia tells Japan to put trade first

Politics Nov. 13, 2011 - 06:20PM JST ( 31 )

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31 Comments

0

just-a-guyNov. 13, 2011 - 03:47PM JST

The Tupolevs will roaming again over the Kurile islands again!
0

Spidapig24Nov. 13, 2011 - 04:09PM JST

Oh here we go again! More of the same from Japan, give us back our islands that you took off us after our war of aggression that we started.

The Russians offered you some islands back already and you said no, why do you keep going on and on about this give it up. You started it, you lost it, deal with it.
-1

Arthur DumbolovNov. 13, 2011 - 04:48PM JST

Actually, our (Russians) position is: remove US naval military bases from Okinawa, no, from all Japan, move them far away to Australia and Japan will get those 4 islands.
-1

PT24881Nov. 13, 2011 - 05:44PM JST

Sovereignty is, by itself, only defensible but not negotiatiable -- words from the Russian ( next president ? ) PM Putin.

Hence, straightening the order of the issues -- 'trade' first with the current president Medvedev, 'politics' with the next president Putin afterwards...
-1

sunhawkNov. 13, 2011 - 07:33PM JST

any issues about islands won't be able to get resolution until all the soviet era people like Putin are gone and dead.
-1

Boris YarovoyNov. 13, 2011 - 09:44PM JST

In Russia there are people offering to return the Kurile Islands of Japan. http://ainu-japan.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-post.html But Japan does not want to work in this direction. Politicians are accustomed to lots of talk and not do anything really.
-2

YuriOtaniNov. 13, 2011 - 10:40PM JST

Spidapig24, you got the message, no northern territories, no peace. Trade with Russia is not worth it!
-1

DogNov. 13, 2011 - 10:45PM JST

YuriOtaniNov. 13, 2011 - 10:40PM JST Trade with Russia is not worth it!

Trade with anyone seems not worth it for Japan, if it isn't allowed to practice its neo-mercantilist policies.

Let's go back to the halcyon days of 1660.
-2

Spidapig24Nov. 13, 2011 - 10:49PM JST

Yuriotani,

You mean if russia doesnt give back it's spoils of war then Japan will be very upset and not sign a peace treaty. AW no... And no trade yeah right
-1

DogNov. 13, 2011 - 10:57PM JST

Arthur DumbolovNov. 13, 2011 - 04:48PM JST Actually, our (Russians) position is: remove US naval military bases from Okinawa, no, from all Japan, move them far away to Australia and Japan will get those 4 islands.

It has never been Russia's position, even in the 1950's. It was actually America's position in the 1950's, when Dulles - Ichiro was about to come to an agreement with the Soviet Union that 2 of the southern kuriles would be returned to Japan - threatened Hatoyama snr that any reproachment between the USSR and Japan might lead to the USA never returning Okinawa.

Out of that threat we have lived with the 'northern territory fiasco' since. Even Yoshida accepted in 1952 that the Kuriles were the Kuriles. The term .'northern territories' was a MOF invention resulting from Dulles' threat and way of picking a territorial scab to please America.

The problem is that with the Japanese more than half the exercise of making white into black, is to say that it is so.

Now a problem that was never even a problem has been written into stone.
-2

YuriOtaniNov. 13, 2011 - 10:57PM JST

Spidapig24, why should Japan let itself get dependent of Russian gas/oil? Dog I favor trade with America and Europe, etc. Russians can not be trusted! A treaty from them is not worth the paper it is written upon.
1

zichiNov. 13, 2011 - 11:02PM JST

YuriOtani, there's a shortage of natural gas and most of it committed to contracts. Following 3/11, Russia offered more gas at reduced prices. That was a very friendly gesture.
0

globalwatcherNov. 13, 2011 - 11:05PM JST

Arthur DumbolovNov. 13, 2011 - 04:48PM JST

Actually, our (Russians) position is: remove US naval military bases from Okinawa, no, from all Japan, move them far away to Australia and Japan will get those 4 islands.

Very interesting to learn about this. Would you please provide me with the link supporting your opinion?
-3

YuriOtaniNov. 13, 2011 - 11:08PM JST

zichi, once Japan is addicted to Russian gas/oil they will raise the prices and or make political demands. Unlike Americans Russians can not be trusted.
-1

DogNov. 13, 2011 - 11:16PM JST

YuriOtaniNov. 13, 2011 - 11:08PM JST

zichi, once Japan is addicted to Russian gas/oil they will raise the prices and or make political demands. Unlike Americans Russians can not be trusted.

Unlike Russia, America isn't exporting gas/oil.

It's no sweat to Russia. If you don't buy their gas/oil, there's plenty that will.
0

Arthur DumbolovNov. 13, 2011 - 11:22PM JST

Unlike Americans Russians can not be trusted

やっぱり、あんたわほんとばかね…＿o＿

Our government is going to buy oil from Japan soon, no joke. And electric energy will be transferred to Hokkaido soon too.

Mind to explain, WHY we can not be trusted?
-1

Arthur DumbolovNov. 13, 2011 - 11:33PM JST

My own opinion about this question: islands may be given to Japan, but ONLY with locals, because they are really suffering because of no coal, practically no support from Moscow or from rest of Russia. And, territorial waters around these islands should stay Russian.
2

zichiNov. 14, 2011 - 12:00AM JST

YuriOtani,

If Russia sells natural gas at below world price, then Japan buys. If Russia ups the price which I believe Russia won't do until the nuclear disaster is sorted, then Japan can stop buying gas.

It's worth to buy even one tanker of gas.
-2

YuriOtaniNov. 14, 2011 - 12:06AM JST

Arthur Dumbolov, we can buy our coal from America. Why can Russia not be trusted? well they break their treaties. What is the use of signing something the Russians think and act like it is meaningless? Thus my response to Russia, is go frack yourselves.
0

YuriOtaniNov. 14, 2011 - 12:19AM JST

zichi, what happens when no replacement gas is available like in Europe? The government would be better off building windmill farms. They are available cheap from General Electric, buying coal and these windmills will help the exchange rate with the USA.
1

zichiNov. 14, 2011 - 12:48AM JST

YuriOtani,

Japan is in its worse energy crisis since the last oil crisis. Since 3/11 most nuclear reactors have been shut down, there are about 10 out of 54 still operating but if the present course continues all reactors will be shut down by next year. There will be pressure to restart some of them.

Prior to 3/11, 75% of total power was being generated by nuclear, gas, coal. The only immediate solution to closing down the reactors is an increase in gas and coal generation but that will also increase the amount of greenhouse gases produced.

It will take at least 10 years to introduce more renewable energy, and according to the Fujitsu Research Institute, by 2020, power generated from renewables will be about 11%, up from the current 2%, while nuclear generated power will decrease to about 18% down from the current 25%.

Japan needs to make some very important decisions about energy.

Windfarms and solar panels will only have a very limited use. Windfarms to be most effective will need to be located off the coast in places with the best supply of wind.

I think tidal and wave generation might be more effective since the sea is always moving.

For the moment, Japan needs more gas and Russia is a country with surplus supplies.

Quite frankly, I find your hatred of Russia and China difficult to understand.
-1

Arthur DumbolovNov. 14, 2011 - 01:29AM JST

Arthur Dumbolov, we can buy our coal from America. Why can Russia not be trusted? well they break their treaties

Pick one.

All I see is how USA and NATO breaking all possible treaties and rules by attacking countries which has oil under the pretext of "bringing democracy". You should expect [economical] attack from USA, not from Russia, Russia is peaceful country now.

However, I don't get opinion of such AMERIBOO like you so closely.
-3

YuriOtaniNov. 14, 2011 - 02:21AM JST

Arthur Dumbolov, unlike Russia, America never stabbed Japan in the back.
-2

YuriOtaniNov. 14, 2011 - 02:38AM JST

zichi, I do not hate China or Russia, just do not trust them. Well trust China more since they are not back stabbers. Japan needs to feel some pain to change. Cheap Russian gas/oil now will lead to competency, which will block the change. Perhaps if Russia gave up two of the islands now, and allowed the former residents to return there could be an agreement. However remember the PM has to face political realities, sign a Peace Treaty without Russian concessions would mean the destruction of the DPJ.
-1

The_TrueNov. 14, 2011 - 03:09AM JST

YuriOtani, but Japan always stab The US and every other country in the back everyday!

start with the trade and keep going!
-2

Arthur DumbolovNov. 14, 2011 - 03:15AM JST

What. WHEN Russia stabbed Japan in the back? Year, date, now!
1

zichiNov. 14, 2011 - 03:58AM JST

YuriOtani,

in modern times, Japan killed hundreds of thousands of Chinese, occupied both China and Korea. Prior to the war, America put an oil embargo on Japan. If any country has done stabbing it was the Japanese. It's relationship with Russia should not revolve a few small islands which anyway belonged to the Ainu. What makes you think any Japanese would even want to live on those islands except for crab fishing?
0

YuriOtaniNov. 14, 2011 - 04:10AM JST

Grins, maybe Russia will take some really HOT cars from Japan as a form of payment ;) Hey if you can not trust an used auto salesman from the mainland, who can you trust? Same thing with the Tokyo government, come on tell me. You would buy an used Japanese car from Tovarish Noda, right? Maybe 10,000 of these cars for the return of the first 2 islands. Hey they are even easy to see at night!
0

gaijinfoNov. 14, 2011 - 06:31AM JST

“I believe that the economy should go first and the political should follow suit. This is the correct approach in general because it’s economics that defines our life and politics makes it worse oftentimes,” Medvedev said.

Says the leader of one of the most resource rich yet economically backward countries in the world. Russia is the only major country that is a net producer of oil (produce more than they consume) and is still an economic basket case.
0

globalwatcherNov. 14, 2011 - 07:07AM JST

Medvedev- I believe that the economy should go first and the political should follow suit.

No, his statement is absurd. Do you make a huge investment with a mistress whose mind changes all the time? Without the political stability, there is no sense to think about further discussion. His thinking is a backward.
0

OssanAmericaNov. 14, 2011 - 07:27AM JST

Spidapig24Nov. 13, 2011 - 04:09PM JST Oh here we go again! More of the same from Japan, give us back our islands that you took off us after our war of >aggression that we started.

that you took off us AFTER WE ALREADY SURRENDERED, wjich is why the US, UK and EU consider them Japanes territory UNDER RUSSIAN OCCUPATION

The Russians offered you some islands back already and you said no, why do you keep going on and on about this >give it up. You started it, you lost it, deal with it.

They offerd HALF of the four islands