From AFP:
H/T: Terry
Russia Prepares for Japanese Attack
Following some run-of-the-mill protests in front of the Russian Embassy by a handful of Japanese right-wingers the other day, a wonderfully paranoid article appeared in Pravda:
Anti-Russian hysteria continues in Japan. On February 7, Japanese revanchists who gathered at the walls of the Russian Embassy in Tokyo demanded that Russia returns four Kuril Islands, and abused the Russian national flag in the process. The police did not intervene in the proceedings, acting as interested spectators.
Perhaps the far-right were inspired by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who spoke on the same day with an official address in which he called the recent visit of Dmitry Medvedev to the Southern Kuriles “inexcusable rudeness”.
The next day, February 8, the Russian Embassy received a letter with a bullet and a note from which the Russian diplomats learned that the “northern territories is a Japanese land”.
Moscow’s position boils down to the fact that four Kuril Islands, whose ownership is disputed by the Japanese, belong to Russia as the successor to the USSR following World War II.
So far the battle for the Southern Kurils is diplomatic. But who knows what would the Japanese do when it becomes clear that their diplomatic efforts are futile? The history has precedents where the ownership of certain territories was disputed at a battlefield.
Forget about the fact that right-wingers hate Prime Minister Kan. Obviously they were “inspired” by the empty complaints Kan made towards the Russians.
Let’s move on and find out how Japan is preparing to conquer the Russian-held islands:
Currently there are five Japanese small and medium landing ships, as well as at least eight landing crafts, with which they can land troops in heavy weather and natural conditions. The landing crafts alone can land up to 36 armored vehicles, or more than 4.2 thousand marines at a time. In addition, the Japanese leaders do not rule out future significant increase in the number of amphibious ships and boats.
Furthermore, government officials declare their intention to revive full-fledged Marines, creating “mobile assault units,” designed to capture the coastal strip of the probable enemy.
That is, Japan has been actively building up its strike group designed to conduct amphibious operations. Is Russia ready for the Japanese that once had lost all hope of returning “native Japanese territories,” to take action?
Konstantin Sivkov, senior vice president of the Academy of Geopolitical Issues, answered this question for Pravda.ru.
“Of course, when we try to imagine a scenario of conflict with Japan, we should take into account the fact that it is not limited to amphibious operation in the Southern Kuril Islands,” the expert believes. “Japanese revenge-seekers who are raising their head increasingly more must understand that in case of military adventurism on their part they will have to deal with Russia on the vast theater of operations, from Vladivostok to the Kuril chain, and possibly up to Kamchatka. They surpass Russia both at sea and in the air at this point. Although on our side we have strategic aircrafts unavailable in Japan. Thus, our missiles can be guaranteed to hit targets within a radius of 1500-2000 kilometers.
With regard to nuclear weapons, in a conventional conflict, without the use of weapons of mass destruction, we simply will not use it, and we do not hope that it can stop the aggressor.
Until recently there was a rather strong Russian unit in the conflict zone, including an artillery division, designed precisely to reflect a probable enemy assault. However, in 1990, our Kuril group significantly deteriorated in the general context of weakening of Russian defenses. In particular, a significant portion of the park was comprised of obsolete armored vehicles T-55. Or there is something else – while the Japanese are increasing their military preparedness, we are only just beginning to wonder out loud: “Should we send S-300 to the Kuriles? It says a lot.
In case of an attack of a potential enemy, our Kurile unit, including the southern islands, is guaranteed to hold out for a day or two. Maximum – three or four days. During this time we must ensure the delivery of reinforcement, otherwise the outcome of the likely conflict may not be very pleasant.
The Russian government has since announced that it will be beefing up its military presence in the area.
http://www.japanprobe.com/2011/02/10/russia-prepares-for-japanese-attack/
Russia to boost defences on Kuril islands: Medvedev
By Stuart Williams (AFP) – 16 hours ago
MOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Wednesday ordered the deployment of extra weaponry on the Kuril islands claimed by Japan, escalating tensions in a dispute that has festered since World War II.
Bluntly describing the Pacific islands as an "inseparable" part of Russia's territory and a strategic Russian region, Medvedev also ordered an expansion of its presence on the remote archipelago.
His comments represented a drastic sharpening of Moscow's rhetoric in the dispute with Tokyo after Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan called Medvedev's unprecedented visit to the islands in November an "unforgivable outrage".
The remarks are also sure to create an icy atmosphere when Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara visits Moscow on Friday for previously scheduled talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
"The additional weapons which will be deployed there must be sufficient and modern to ensure the security of these islands which are an inseparable part of the Russian Federation," Medvedev said.
"We will make every necessary effort to strengthen our presence on the Kuril islands. This is our strategic region," he said at a meeting with Russia's ministers of defence and regional development shown on state television.
"Ensure that all the necessary decisions are carried out, the deliveries (of weapons) are realised and all the necessary reorganisational measures are fulfilled," Medvedev told Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
Serdyukov, who also angered Japan when he visited the islands last week, replied that the defence ministry would review what additional arms were needed on the Kurils and would report back at the end of February.
"We will prepare a programme by the end of the month. Now we understand what weapons need to be there. We will take a decision by the end of month," Serdyukov was quoted as saying.
A defence ministry source told the ITAR-TASS news agency that the Mistral class warships Russia is buying from France would be used by the Russian Pacific Fleet "including for the protection of the South Kurils".
The deputy head of the defence committee for Russia's lower house of parliament, Igor Barinov, said Medvedev's announcement was a response to "anti-Russian hysteria" in Japan.
"This decision is mainly of a political nature and tells Japan that there is going to be no revision of the results of World War II and it will cool hotheads in Tokyo," he told the RIA Novosti news agency.
The Kurils, which lie just north of Japan's Hokkaido island, have been controlled by Moscow since they were seized by Soviet troops in 1945 but their status remains a major problem in Moscow-Tokyo relations.
The dispute surrounds the southernmost four islands -- known in Russian as Iturup, Shikotan, Habomai and Kunashir -- which are still claimed by Tokyo and collectively known in Japan as the Northern Territories.
Japan does not contest Russia's sovereignty over the northernmost islands but has repeatedly demanded the return of the other four. Serdykov last week angered Japan by visiting Iturup and Kunashir.
The row also prevented Russia and Japan from signing a peace treaty to formally end World War II and stymied attempts to bring bilateral economic relations to their full potential.
The islanders -- buffeted by storm winds and often battling fog -- eke out a tough existence with fishing the main industry and Medvedev called for greater tourism and foreign investment.
"The main thing is that the people who live there should feel they are no worse off than those on the mainland," he said.
Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said ahead of Maehara's visit that now was "the perfect time to return our relations to their normal track."
But he added: "First and foremost, we expect our Japanese colleagues to fundamentally change their attitude towards Russia."
Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hGqIntzWowbQgYUKO087Pezlavmg?docId=CNG.ef61de15a5f1897aa875e15633164c79.851
H/T: Terry
Russia Prepares for Japanese Attack
Following some run-of-the-mill protests in front of the Russian Embassy by a handful of Japanese right-wingers the other day, a wonderfully paranoid article appeared in Pravda:
Anti-Russian hysteria continues in Japan. On February 7, Japanese revanchists who gathered at the walls of the Russian Embassy in Tokyo demanded that Russia returns four Kuril Islands, and abused the Russian national flag in the process. The police did not intervene in the proceedings, acting as interested spectators.
Perhaps the far-right were inspired by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who spoke on the same day with an official address in which he called the recent visit of Dmitry Medvedev to the Southern Kuriles “inexcusable rudeness”.
The next day, February 8, the Russian Embassy received a letter with a bullet and a note from which the Russian diplomats learned that the “northern territories is a Japanese land”.
Moscow’s position boils down to the fact that four Kuril Islands, whose ownership is disputed by the Japanese, belong to Russia as the successor to the USSR following World War II.
So far the battle for the Southern Kurils is diplomatic. But who knows what would the Japanese do when it becomes clear that their diplomatic efforts are futile? The history has precedents where the ownership of certain territories was disputed at a battlefield.
Forget about the fact that right-wingers hate Prime Minister Kan. Obviously they were “inspired” by the empty complaints Kan made towards the Russians.
Let’s move on and find out how Japan is preparing to conquer the Russian-held islands:
Currently there are five Japanese small and medium landing ships, as well as at least eight landing crafts, with which they can land troops in heavy weather and natural conditions. The landing crafts alone can land up to 36 armored vehicles, or more than 4.2 thousand marines at a time. In addition, the Japanese leaders do not rule out future significant increase in the number of amphibious ships and boats.
Furthermore, government officials declare their intention to revive full-fledged Marines, creating “mobile assault units,” designed to capture the coastal strip of the probable enemy.
That is, Japan has been actively building up its strike group designed to conduct amphibious operations. Is Russia ready for the Japanese that once had lost all hope of returning “native Japanese territories,” to take action?
Konstantin Sivkov, senior vice president of the Academy of Geopolitical Issues, answered this question for Pravda.ru.
“Of course, when we try to imagine a scenario of conflict with Japan, we should take into account the fact that it is not limited to amphibious operation in the Southern Kuril Islands,” the expert believes. “Japanese revenge-seekers who are raising their head increasingly more must understand that in case of military adventurism on their part they will have to deal with Russia on the vast theater of operations, from Vladivostok to the Kuril chain, and possibly up to Kamchatka. They surpass Russia both at sea and in the air at this point. Although on our side we have strategic aircrafts unavailable in Japan. Thus, our missiles can be guaranteed to hit targets within a radius of 1500-2000 kilometers.
With regard to nuclear weapons, in a conventional conflict, without the use of weapons of mass destruction, we simply will not use it, and we do not hope that it can stop the aggressor.
Until recently there was a rather strong Russian unit in the conflict zone, including an artillery division, designed precisely to reflect a probable enemy assault. However, in 1990, our Kuril group significantly deteriorated in the general context of weakening of Russian defenses. In particular, a significant portion of the park was comprised of obsolete armored vehicles T-55. Or there is something else – while the Japanese are increasing their military preparedness, we are only just beginning to wonder out loud: “Should we send S-300 to the Kuriles? It says a lot.
In case of an attack of a potential enemy, our Kurile unit, including the southern islands, is guaranteed to hold out for a day or two. Maximum – three or four days. During this time we must ensure the delivery of reinforcement, otherwise the outcome of the likely conflict may not be very pleasant.
The Russian government has since announced that it will be beefing up its military presence in the area.
http://www.japanprobe.com/2011/02/10/russia-prepares-for-japanese-attack/
Russia to boost defences on Kuril islands: Medvedev
By Stuart Williams (AFP) – 16 hours ago
MOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Wednesday ordered the deployment of extra weaponry on the Kuril islands claimed by Japan, escalating tensions in a dispute that has festered since World War II.
Bluntly describing the Pacific islands as an "inseparable" part of Russia's territory and a strategic Russian region, Medvedev also ordered an expansion of its presence on the remote archipelago.
His comments represented a drastic sharpening of Moscow's rhetoric in the dispute with Tokyo after Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan called Medvedev's unprecedented visit to the islands in November an "unforgivable outrage".
The remarks are also sure to create an icy atmosphere when Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara visits Moscow on Friday for previously scheduled talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
"The additional weapons which will be deployed there must be sufficient and modern to ensure the security of these islands which are an inseparable part of the Russian Federation," Medvedev said.
"We will make every necessary effort to strengthen our presence on the Kuril islands. This is our strategic region," he said at a meeting with Russia's ministers of defence and regional development shown on state television.
"Ensure that all the necessary decisions are carried out, the deliveries (of weapons) are realised and all the necessary reorganisational measures are fulfilled," Medvedev told Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
Serdyukov, who also angered Japan when he visited the islands last week, replied that the defence ministry would review what additional arms were needed on the Kurils and would report back at the end of February.
"We will prepare a programme by the end of the month. Now we understand what weapons need to be there. We will take a decision by the end of month," Serdyukov was quoted as saying.
A defence ministry source told the ITAR-TASS news agency that the Mistral class warships Russia is buying from France would be used by the Russian Pacific Fleet "including for the protection of the South Kurils".
The deputy head of the defence committee for Russia's lower house of parliament, Igor Barinov, said Medvedev's announcement was a response to "anti-Russian hysteria" in Japan.
"This decision is mainly of a political nature and tells Japan that there is going to be no revision of the results of World War II and it will cool hotheads in Tokyo," he told the RIA Novosti news agency.
The Kurils, which lie just north of Japan's Hokkaido island, have been controlled by Moscow since they were seized by Soviet troops in 1945 but their status remains a major problem in Moscow-Tokyo relations.
The dispute surrounds the southernmost four islands -- known in Russian as Iturup, Shikotan, Habomai and Kunashir -- which are still claimed by Tokyo and collectively known in Japan as the Northern Territories.
Japan does not contest Russia's sovereignty over the northernmost islands but has repeatedly demanded the return of the other four. Serdykov last week angered Japan by visiting Iturup and Kunashir.
The row also prevented Russia and Japan from signing a peace treaty to formally end World War II and stymied attempts to bring bilateral economic relations to their full potential.
The islanders -- buffeted by storm winds and often battling fog -- eke out a tough existence with fishing the main industry and Medvedev called for greater tourism and foreign investment.
"The main thing is that the people who live there should feel they are no worse off than those on the mainland," he said.
Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said ahead of Maehara's visit that now was "the perfect time to return our relations to their normal track."
But he added: "First and foremost, we expect our Japanese colleagues to fundamentally change their attitude towards Russia."
Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hGqIntzWowbQgYUKO087Pezlavmg?docId=CNG.ef61de15a5f1897aa875e15633164c79.851
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