Japan raises concerns over possible Russian base on disputed island chain

Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, has said Russia would study the possibility of building a naval base on the island chain

Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/AFP/Getty Images)

Japanese officials are concerned over Russian plans to build a naval base on a western Pacific island chain, partly claimed by Tokyo, a government spokesperson has said.

Tokyo’s trepidations follows a comment made by Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu last week, in which he said Russia would study the possibility of building a naval base on the island chain.

“We’ve informed the Russian side through a diplomatic channel that we are concerned about the comment by Defence Minister Shoigu,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference.

“We’ve also told them that of this led to the reinforcement of Russian military infrastructure on the Northern Territories, that would be incompatible with Japan’s stance and regrettable.

Last week, Shoigu also said Russia would deploy some of its newest missile defence systems and drones on the Kuril islands.

The disputed islands are called the Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kurils in Russia.

Japan claims a southern section of the island chain, which was seized by Soviet troops at the end of World War Two.

A long-running territorial row has prevented the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty.

The military build-up in Russia’s Far East comes as Japan shifts its defence focus to the south to better cope with China’s maritime expansion.

On Monday, Japan switched on a radar station in the East China Sea, giving it a permanent intelligence gathering post close to a group of islands disputed by Japan and China.

The move has drawn a critical response from Beijing.

China's defence ministry said in a statement that the international community should be on high alert over Japan's military expansion.

It said: "The Diaoyu Islands are China's inherent territory. We are resolutely opposed to any provocative behavior by Japan aimed at Chinese territory.

"The activities of Chinese ships and aircraft in the relevant waters and airspace are completely appropriate and legal."

Additional reporting by Reuters