The USA Supports Expansion of Japan on the Far East

The USA recognizes the sovereignty of Japan over four southern islands of Kuril Islands and support efforts of Moscow and Tokyo on peace treaty signing, they declared in the American embassy in Moscow to "Interfax" on Friday. "The government of the USA supports Japan in this question and recognizes the Japanese sovereignty over islands", - was told to "Interfax" in embassy of the USA in reply to the request to explain official position of Washington on a territorial question between Russia and Japan.

They also underlined in embassy that Washington "supports efforts of the governments of Japan and Russia on conclusion of peace treaty having been ripened long ago as well as the efforts on strengthening of mutual relations as a whole between them".

As the official representative of the state department Mark Toner declared at a briefing for journalists on Thursday, "we urge to carry on dialogue as we, certainly, want to see stability in the region". Answering specifying question, whether it means that Washington is afraid of intensity growth between Russia and Japan representative of the state department answered: "I repeat we would call both countries to continue dialogue".

The USA doesn't recognize the sovereignty of Russia over disputable territories and the embassy of the USA reminded of it on Friday, having repeated the statement of the state department made on November, 3rd last year soon after a visit of Dmitry Medvedev to Kunashir. Washington doesn't consider that San-Francisco peace treaty of 1951 between Japan and the allies which the USSR hasn't signed deprives Tokyo of the sovereignty over Southern Kuriles.

The day before the official representative the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Lukashevich answering "Interfax" question declared that Moscow vigorously rejects possibility of any negotiation with Japan on so-called territorial question. "There are no negotiations being held on these themes. Actually there's no talking about negotiations as our positions cardinally disperse", - he declared at briefing in Moscow. "The question on the sovereignty of Russia over Kuriles is irrevocable and isn't subjected to any doubts", - the Russian diplomat underlined.

At the same time he noticed that Russia was ready to dialogue on the conclusion of the peace treaty with Japan. "We are still ready to discuss with the Japanese colleagues the questions concerning conclusions of the Russian-Japanese peace treaty", - Lukashevich declared. For this purpose, he specified, Japan should recognize the results of World War II.

Earlier the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov told the same. "There is no other way until Japan won't do what other countries have already made, namely to recognize results of World War II", - he told.

- Actually, it is strange to do sensation of position of the USA which it has been adhering for 60 years, - editor-in-chief of FORUM.msk Anatoly Baranov reminded. - America supports its ally Japan, in the same way it doesn't recognize, let us assume, the sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia but until the Russian Federation is capable to guarantee its sovereignty by force, all these diplomatic games have no great value. Another matter - why the question of "northern territories" arise right now and whether it is connected with easing of military power of Russia to such condition that it's not capable to provide the sovereignty over the territories?

"Explaining possible reasons of activization of Japan on the northern direction for one of the Western European radio stations yesterday I connected it first of all with internal problems of Japan, - Anatoly Baranov continued. - Political system existing in this country for 40 years undergoes now serious changes. Collapse of the Japanese economy which falling of gross national product last year made more than 14 percent is behind of it and now the Japanese economy is not any more the second in the world but the third, after the USA and China. All it should affect internal policy and the government of Japan is interested in switching attention of a society from internal problems on external - old insults, growth of patriotic sentiments, national fixed idea - nobody is perfect. The second moment is possibility to increase on a wave of patriotism the volume of the defensive order and thus to load standing idle capacities of industries. Position of the USA, probably, meaningly playing up to the growth of the Japanese militarism is clear as it partially unloads economy of the USA from already excessive burden of military expenses. It's quite probable that this game is joined also by Russia pushing now Japan to additional militarization by statements about strengthening of army grouping on Kuriles, dispositions of helicopter carriers "Mistral" on the Pacific Ocean and so on. It's also favourable to China as leaving of Japan from certain markets of civil goods inevitably gives chance to China to fill them with their goods".

- However economy militarization is a movement always in one direction and without brakes, - Anatoly Baranov finished. - Just half a century ago Japan was the most powerful military force on the Pacific Ocean which defeat demanded joint efforts of the USA, England, Australia, the USSR and China. Growth of military power of Japan can become prompt and irreversible - even today it's rather big. Let's remind that Japan possesses at once 5 squadron torpedo boats-helicopter carriers, near to which "Mistrals" - are simply targets. Plus 8 big squadron torpedo boats DDG, 35 destroyers of easier types, 6 frigates and 20 underwater boats - it's more than enough for "forces of self-defense". By the way, Japan also has landing helicopter carriers of "Mistral" type - three pieces. Sea aircraft - 172 planes and 133 helicopters. All this, except aviation technics, of own manufacture, that is power of fleet can be increased quickly and in times. The matter is that military technics if it exists usually as a gun on a wall - will necessarily shoot. The target is evident - the unique object which can be attacked today almost free is the Russian Far East. Our Pacific Fleet has 7-8 combat-ready submarines "Varang", several major anti-submarine ships and destroyers. Perhaps that's all. Communications are extremely stretched, there are practically no back lands, mobilization potential is almost zero. Strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation will be neutralized by presence of the American ones - Moscow most likely won't dare to apply them under any circumstances. As compare to conventional armament in the Far East we lose to Japan even now. I do not know what conclusions they do now in the Kremlin and in "Arbat district" but I think there could be only one adequate answer here - escalating of forces and means on the given perspective battlefield, resuscitation of the defensive industry, formation of at least two shock carrier groups on the Pacific Fleet and development of Southern Kuriles already in the economic plan by quick rates. Probably - expansion of defensive alliance with China and even (if it is possible) rent of Port Arthur under basing of one of the carrier groups. Best defense is offense...

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