Kishida meets Putin ahead of Russian president's Japan visit

Let's hope that Japan sign it the peace treaty with Russia. Good opportunity for japan to break post-war regime imposed by the U.S.

If Abe is planning on revising the constitution that brought prosperity and security from worldly affairs to the nation there is no reason to sign a peace treaty. See what thrives in him, delusion or common sense.

Russia under Putin will never give back the islands, although for that ones, the history and signatures of treaties before WWII gives reason to Japan Media reports in Russia about that issue are I guess completely different and opposed to the news here

Let's hope that Japan sign it the peace treaty with Russia. Good opportunity for japan to break post-war regime imposed by the U.S.

Please name another country that will come to Japan's aid in event of war. Who would defend Japan, Russia or the US?

Please name another country that will come to Japan's aid in event of war. Who would defend Japan

Please name a situation when Japan is not able to defend itself. Japan is not an imbecile child that needs constant "protection and supervision".

Please name a situation when Japan is not able to defend itself. Japan is not an imbecile child that needs constant "protection and supervision".

Russia, China, and North Korea are not military allies of Japan, no matter how much you want readers to believe.

@Asakaze " Japan is not an imbecile child that needs constant "protection and supervision".

Indeed. Aren't we tired to listen again and again this old fairy tale about eternal "protection and supervision" ? Japan is a close neighbour of Russia. The mentioned Peace Treaty must be signed ASAP.

@yamashi

Aren't we tired to listen again and again this old fairy tale about eternal "protection and supervision" ?

Exactly!!

@paulinusa

Russia, China, and North Korea are not military allies of Japan, no matter how much you want readers to believe.

"Not allies" does not always mean "enemy".

Russia: not enemy at all. Or do you really believe that Russian tanks will invade Hokkaido? What for?

North Korea: Kim III is a nasty piece of work, but he is not an idiot, he does not need war, he needs concessions (food, money). And what can he do militarily? His only real threat against Japan only some crude missiles. SDF's Aegis and PAC-3 systems can handle it.

China: yes, that is the real threat. But give me one militarily plausible scenario that SDF can not handle. Instead of paying huge money on US bases here Japan better spend it on its own armed forces.

The bottom line: Japan can defend itself, it does not need the US parential supervision, "no matter how much you want readers to believe".

Japan is not an imbecile child that needs constant "protection and supervision".

Aren't we tired to listen again and again this old fairy tale about eternal "protection and supervision" ? Japan is a close neighbour of Russia.

The Putin propaganda machine out in full force. No matter how much Japan wants the Northern Territories back, it will NEVER forsake its USA ally for Russia's empty promises and shallow "friendship".

The Putin propaganda machine out in full force

Old trick. I see you have nothing to say on the substance of the subject. Propaganda cliches are bad substitute for logical arguments.

I honestly see not the slightest reason to celebrate, chinese continue to buy properties at strategic locations in Hokkaido and they will continue to buy properties in Kuril Islands,because unfortunately most of the Japanese people lacks a vision the importance of protecting their borders.

Udondashi: ... chinese ... will continue to buy properties in Kuril Islands ...

That doesn't mean it's smart.

Udondashi DEC. 03, 2016 - 12:43PM JST because unfortunately most of the Japanese people lacks a vision the importance of protecting their borders.

Who really lacks the vision? Russians has a vision? Russia is a third world country. Less GDP than tiny country of South Korea and the average income of Russia is less that $450.00 per month (U.S. dollar)? Russian government depends on oil and natural gas for majority of the countries GDP. There is no diversification of their economy. They don't care about their own people. Only their military at the expense of their citizens.

I can just imagine the conversation:

Kishida: Here's a script of what we'd like you to say to the media, please.

Putin: (swearing in Russian) I will say what I please, thank you.

Kishida: Oh, of course! Who would suggest otherwise? We just... ummm... this is what we would like you say. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Putin: (grinning) I just said I will say as I please, not go by some script.

Kishida: Of course! No one is suggesting you don't (bowing)

Putin: You are.

Kishida: (muttering about being regrettable) What I mean to say is, well, if you could just say what's on the script, please... ummm... it would be appreciated... (starts twitching). Please talk about how we are making progress on our islands.

Putin: OUR islands. We've offered to give two to you but you've refused, so you get none. Now, let's talk about how much you're going to pay us.

Kishida: (aside) Regrettable! (to Putin) of course... lead the way, please. So sorry.

The problem is that as long as Japan ties its security to the U.S., it will have very limited options regarding Russia. Obviously Russia would love to be able to hedge with both China and Japan, using both to its advantage. Not going to happen as long as the U.S. sees Russia as a threat to Europe or its national interests in the Middle East, whether real or perceived. That means that Russia's most important foreign relationship will continue to be with China. Likewise Siberia will continue to rely on Chinese trade and investment. Geopolitically, Russia and China will slowly but steadily get closer for the foreseeable future.

@sfjp330"Russia is a third world country".

This "third world country" successfully broke a backbone of ISIS in Syria. If you have no valid arguments, please, keep silence.

New allies ... Russia and China? Trump declared China is not China. Taiwan is only China. Well we call. Chugoku anyway.

Good luck japan. Getting the islands back.