Photo/Illutration The Northern Territories (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The Russian invasion of Ukraine dominates parts of this year’s Diplomatic Bluebook, released by the Foreign Ministry on April 22, which returned to criticizing Russia over its occupation of the Northern Territories. 

In addition, the bluebook dropped the mention of the importance of Japan-Russia ties and said there was no prospect for talks of a peace treaty between the two countries to officially end World War II.

The hostile Russian action against Ukraine was described as “a major turning point in history because it threatens the international order established after the end of the Cold War.”

Wording included in last year’s edition about the “extremely important” ties Japan had with Russia were deleted in this year’s bluebook.

The bluebook said the invasion of Ukraine “could never be accepted because it was an outrageous act that shakes the very foundation of international order based on the prohibition against the use of force, the rule of law and respect for human rights.”

The bluebook is a record of Japan’s diplomatic efforts and descriptions of the current international situation.

It normally covers diplomatic events between January and December of the previous year, but the 2022 edition was heavily rewritten after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Regarding the outlook for Japan’s diplomacy, the bluebook states that depending on how the invasion of Ukraine develops “Japan and the world could face the greatest crisis since the end of World War II.”

It added that Japan would “strengthen solidarity with partners with which it shares common values and play a leading role in the efforts by the international community to resist attempts to unilaterally change the status quo through the use of force.”

In the opening section of the first chapter, the document describes the move away from an age in which the stability and prosperity of the international community was maintained by the leadership exercised by the major democracies led by the United States, with its overwhelming political, economic and military power. 

Now, the international situation is one in which “the United States and China are engaged in competition and various other nations are also competing with each other.”

Regarding the Northern Territories in the context of relations with Russia, this year’s bluebook revived for the first time since 2003 the “illegal occupation” by Russia of the four small islands off the main northern island of Hokkaido. It also resurrected wording last used in 2011 in proclaiming that the Northern Territories were Japan’s “inherent territory.”

The isles were seized by the Soviet Union in the closing days of World War II.

It added that with the Russian invasion of Ukraine there was no way to talk about the outlook for peace treaty negotiations with Russia.

Last year’s bluebook said about Russia, “the building of stable relations with Russia contributes not only to Japan’s national interests but is also extremely important for regional stability and development. There is no change to Japan’s intention to place importance on its relations with Russia.”

That entire section was deleted in this year’s edition.

The bluebook also expressed strong concerns about China’s effect on Japan’s security. It pointed to the expanding military moves being made by Beijing, including maritime advances into the East China Sea and South China Sea, based on its unique arguments that are incompatible with the existing international order.

At the same time, the document also noted that as a neighbor China was “one of Japan's most important bilateral relationships” and that there was a need to establish a constructive and stable relationship.

The bluebook also said the series of missile launches by North Korea so far this year was totally unacceptable as it “threatens the peace and stability of Japan, the Asian region and the international community.”

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