Japan and the war in Ukraine

thomas · 23 Feb 2022

Farewell to the Northern Territories (at least for now): Japan will likely join the sanctions imposed on Russia by the G-7, following Russia's occupation of rebel-held territories in Eastern Ukraine.

Japan said on Tuesday it stood ready to join the United States and other G7 industrialised nations in slapping sanctions on Russia, should President Vladimir Putin order an invasion of Ukraine. The confirmation by the world's No. 3 economy comes as the crisis in Europe worsens, with the Russian leader ordering troops into two breakaway regions in Eastern Ukraine that Russia now recognizes as independent states. That action was "unacceptable and a violation of international law," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who called Putin on Thursday to urge restraint, told reporters. Japan was ready for a strong response that could include sanctions, he added.

https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0008295824

Here's an interesting tweet by the Ukrainian ambassador to Japan.

Very level-headed assessment by a Ukrainian living in Fukuoka. She was also featured by Asahi.

musicisgood · 23 Feb 2022

Japan better watch out the relationship between Russia and China. Didn't Russia at one time hate Japan. I know China did.

Hiroyuki Nagashima · 23 Feb 2022

Though they violate the United Nations Charter, as for the invasion in Russia in Ukraine, the United Nations does not seem to function.

thomas · 24 Feb 2022

Hiroyuki Nagashima said:
Though they violate the United Nations Charter, as for the invasion of Russia in Ukraine, the United Nations does not seem to function.

Severe sanctions have been imposed by the US, the EU, and other nations. Apart from supplying arms to Ukraine, as the UK did, there aren't many options. We can only hope that this doesn't escalate into a conflict with NATO (which seems unlikely despite Putin's anti-Western rhetoric).

Japan seems to be on board with tough sanctions:

Kishida slams ‘invasion,’ vows to consider more tough sanctions | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Meanwhile, Ukrainian residents of Japan have staged protests in front of the Russian Embassy in Tokyo yesterday:

Ukrainians vent ire at Russian moves with rally outside embassy | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

musicisgood · 25 Feb 2022

Biden better keep his senile and demented mouth shut.
Or we can start to see an escalation happen since the Vietnam War.

thomas · 27 Feb 2022

This has to be the understatement of the year:

Japan's additional sanctions on Russia, announced a day after the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, are likely to make the path forward over the long-standing territorial issue between Tokyo and Moscow more uncertain.

Article expired

News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More

www.japantimes.co.jp

Meanwhile, Japan considers imposing sanctions on Belarus, too.

Japan considering imposing sanctions against Belarus

Japan is weighing the sanctions on the Russian ally in line with the United States, for its support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, two government officials said Saturday.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Last Friday, a cargo vessel owned by an Ehime-based company was hit by a missile in the Black Sea.

日本語 Class · 27 Feb 2022

Has Russia demonstrated interest in the islands in recent years？

Hiroyuki Nagashima · 27 Feb 2022

日本語 Class said:
Has Russia demonstrated interest in the islands in recent years？

The Eastern Military District, which has jurisdiction over the Far East region of the Russian Army, announced on the 1st that it has deployed a surface-to-air missile system "S300V4" in the Krill Islands (northern territories and the Kuril Islands).

ロシア軍、北方領土に地対空ミサイル配備 - 日本経済新聞

【モスクワ=小川知世】ロシア軍で極東地域を管轄する東部軍管区は1日、クリール諸島（北方領土と千島列島）に地対空ミサイルシステム「S300V4」を配備したと発表した。配備先は北方領土の択捉島とみられる。ロシアは実効支配する北方領土の軍備増強を進めており、防空態勢を強化する構えを示した。発表によると、S300V4は弾道ミサイルな

www.nikkei.com

Laoto · 28 Feb 2022

Hiroyuki Nagashima said:
Though they violate the United Nations Charter, as for the invasion in Russia in Ukraine, the United Nations does not seem to function.

国連は役に立たない

mdchachi · 28 Feb 2022

Laoto said:
国連は役に立たない

What do you expect them to do? The UN doesn't have an army. Plus Russia has veto power over any resolutions they try to make.

thomas · 28 Feb 2022

According to PM Kishida, Japan will join the United States and other Western countries in blocking certain Russian banks' access to the SWIFT international payment system. That will hurt sooner or later and will affect Putin's oligarch supporters. Japan also pledged 100m USD in emergency humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian government.

Japan joins U.S., others in excluding Russia from SWIFT system

Japan will join the United States and other Western countries in blocking certain Russian banks' access to the SWIFT international payment system, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Sunday, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

www.reuters.com

mdchachi · 28 Feb 2022

And now we all wait to see how far off the deep end Putin will go.

thomas · 28 Feb 2022

I could well imagine that one of his generals will hold a Tokarev to Putin's head if push comes to shove.

Also, we should not forget that Russians are opposed to this madness, too. Some 6,000 anti-war protesters have been arrested in Russian cities.

Lothor · 28 Feb 2022

thomas said:
According to PM Kishida, Japan will join the United States and other Western countries in blocking certain Russian banks' access to the SWIFT international payment system. That will hurt sooner or later and will affect Putin's oligarch supporters. Japan also pledged 100m USD in emergency humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian government.

Japan joins U.S., others in excluding Russia from SWIFT system

Japan will join the United States and other Western countries in blocking certain Russian banks' access to the SWIFT international payment system, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Sunday, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

www.reuters.com

I don't often praise the Japanese government, but I'm pleased with their level-headed response and their willingness to impose sanctions.

thomas · 28 Feb 2022

Lothor said:
I don't often praise the Japanese government, but I'm pleased with their level-headed response and their willingness to impose sanctions.

I agree, and now they are considering imposing sanctions on Belarus, too. PM Kishida said today that sanctions take precedence over talks on the disputed isles. The financial sanctions on Russia have already taken effect: the ruble is in free fall, and the Russian Central Bank was forced to raise the key interest rate to 20%.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Metropolitan Government shows its solidarity by illuminating the Tocho building in the Ukrainian national colours (until 6 March):

Grandpa Frank · 1 Mar 2022

musicisgood · 2 Mar 2022

thomas said:
I agree, and now they are considering imposing sanctions on Belarus, too. PM Kishida said today that sanctions take precedence over talks on the disputed isles . The financial sanctions on Russia have already taken effect: the ruble is in free fall, and the Russian Central Bank was forced to raise the key interest rate to 20%.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Metropolitan Government shows its solidarity by illuminating the Tocho building in the Ukrainian national colors (until 6 March):

View attachment 85584

Do the Japanese have fishing rights in Russian waters ?

thomas · 2 Mar 2022

musicisgood said:
Do the Japanese have fishing rights in Russian waters ?

I doubt it. Every year, Japan and Russia detain each other's fishing boats that stray into their waters.

And more generosity: residents of Japan have donated 2bn JPY to a relief fund for Ukraine:

Ambassador Sergiy Korsunsky met with Kenta Izumi, head of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, thanking people in the country and its government for the support. More than 60,000 residents had made donations to a bank account set up by the Embassy of Ukraine. Korsunsky called for continued support as an enormous amount of money would be needed for reconstruction in Ukraine, Izumi told reporters after the meeting at the embassy. Meanwhile, e-commerce giant Rakuten Group Inc has separately set up a humanitarian fund, receiving over 1.4 billion yen by Tuesday. Yoshiki, leader of the mega rock band X Japan, has said he donated 10 million yen to the fund.

People in Japan donate ¥2 bil to relief fund for Ukraine

Residents in Japan have donated around 2 billion yen to a relief fund for Ukraine following Russia's invasion of the country, Ukraine's ambassador said Tuesday. Ambassador Sergiy Korsunsky met with Kenta Izumi, head of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, thanking people...

japantoday.com

60,000 donors in Japan pledge 2 billion yen to support Ukraine | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

thomas · 2 Mar 2022

According to the Ukrainian Embassy in Tokyo, some 70 Japanese nationals have volunteered to join the fight against Russia. Most of them are former JSDF officers, two of them have served in the French Foreign Legion.

70 Japanese apply to become volunteer soldiers in Ukraine, many ex-SDF personnel - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- As of March 1, about 70 Japanese nationals had applied to become volunteer foreign soldiers in Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, it was re

mainichi.jp

thomas · 2 Mar 2022

Lately, the Japanese government is always good for new surprises: Japan agreed to accept Ukrainian refugees.

The government will initially accept those who have fled Ukraine and have relatives or acquaintances in Japan, Kishida said. Kishida said he made the pledge during a phone conversation with his Polish counterpart, Mateusz Morawiecki. Thousands of Ukrainians have fled their home country via neighboring Poland. The prime minister's announcement followed remarks from the justice minister that Japan is considering creating a framework that would allow displaced Ukrainians to come and settle in the country.

Kishida announces that Japan will accept Ukrainian refugees at an early date

Around 660,000 refugees had fled Ukraine to neighboring countries in the six days since Russian soldiers invaded the country, according to the UNHCR.

www.japantimes.co.jp

musicisgood · 3 Mar 2022

thomas said:
Lately, the Japanese government is always good for new surprises: Japan agreed to accept Ukrainian refugees.

Kishida announces that Japan will accept Ukrainian refugees at an early date

Around 660,000 refugees had fled Ukraine to neighboring countries in the six days since Russian soldiers invaded the country, according to the UNHCR.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Well, that seems to be good news. 40 years ago here the big word was " make Japan more international ". Seems like it may happen now.

Lothor · 3 Mar 2022

thomas said:
Lately, the Japanese government is always good for new surprises: Japan agreed to accept Ukrainian refugees.

Kishida announces that Japan will accept Ukrainian refugees at an early date

Around 660,000 refugees had fled Ukraine to neighboring countries in the six days since Russian soldiers invaded the country, according to the UNHCR.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Well, I never!

thomas · 4 Mar 2022

More signs of Japanese solidarity:

- Don Quijote Holdings, now known as Pan Pacific International, will provide financial support and job opportunities for 100 refugee families from Ukraine.

The company, formerly known as Don Quijote Holdings, said it is still working out details such as where the families would be housed, and would consider cooperating with other companies in supporting refugees fleeing from Russia's invasion. Japan has not specified how many refugees from Ukraine it will take in. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said earlier that the nation would prioritize aiding refugees who are family members or friends of some 1,900 Ukrainians already in Japan.

Don Quijote discount store operator to support 100 Ukrainian refugee families

The company has said it would consider cooperating with other businesses in supporting refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion.

www.japantimes.co.jp

- Japanese high school students submitted a statement to the Russian Embassy in Tokyo protesting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The joint statement was signed by groups of students from eight regions across Japan including Tokyo, Hiroshima and Okinawa, who are learning about peace and social issues. The statement read, "As people engaging in efforts with aspirations to create a peaceful world, we cannot tolerate Russia's invasion. The act of threatening others with nuclear weapons goes against the global movement to prevent nuclear war and avoid an arms race."

Students in Japan submit protest to Russian Embassy over invasion of Ukraine - The Mainichi

NAHA -- Groups of high school students across Japan submitted a statement to the Russian Embassy in Tokyo on March 3 protesting Russia's invasion of U

mainichi.jp

This could spell more trouble for Russia: the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has decided to freeze lending to Russia and Belarus. Have the Chinese concluded that Putin's botched invasion of Ukraine could be detrimental to their economic interests?

China-backed AIIB freezes lending to Russia and Belarus

Development bank vows to 'safeguard financial integrity' as sanctions mount

asia.nikkei.com

musicisgood · 4 Mar 2022

thomas said:
More Japanese solidarity: Don Quijote Holdings, now known as Pan Pacific International, will provide financial support and job opportunities for 100 refugee families from Ukraine.

Don Quijote discount store operator to support 100 Ukrainian refugee families

The company has said it would consider cooperating with other businesses in supporting refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion.

www.japantimes.co.jp

This could spell more trouble for Russia: the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has decided to freeze lending to Russia and Belarus. Have the Chinese concluded that Putin's botched invasion of Ukraine could be detrimental to their economic interests?

China-backed AIIB freezes lending to Russia and Belarus

Development bank vows to 'safeguard financial integrity' as sanctions mount

asia.nikkei.com

The Don Quijote in Okinawa is large and has a good international customer base there. Not sure if Ukrainians live there though.

Seems like China is not on Russia's side after all. But Russia does sell them a lot of coal though.

Hiroyuki Nagashima · 4 Mar 2022

China is supporting Russia.

Japan and the war in Ukraine

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