A Study On The Northern Territory Issue

Northern Territory issue has lasted over 4 centuries which also witnessed different political stages historically,and has become an unconquerable controversy between Russia and the US-Japan alliance.Under the framework of Yalta Agreement after WWII,the four islands in Northwest Pacific were reverted to USSR.The unilateral agreement called treaty of San Francisco between US and Japan excluded USSR,and blurred the sovereignty and geographic belonging.Without acquiring USSR's approval,the US-Japan alliance Informed Soviet government for demand of the northern 4islands in 1957,and thereby the Northern Territory issue arose.In Cold War,US,out of political interest and strategic benefits,provoked conflicts in Pacific Asia,particularly about Northern Territory issue with an aim to deploy its strategic balancing.Despite many times of negotiations between USSR and Japan,the issue can never receive any constructive breakthrough due to the domestic political pressure of involved parties and External factors under US.In millennium,Russia and Japan heated the bilateral relation by strengthening trading heading for win-win solution.For Russia,it expects by utilizing Northern Territory issue to attract financial investment aids from Japan,exploring far oriental development,and to break the economic blockade after Ukraine Crisis.For Japanese government under Abe,it also desires for real breakthrough to gain great power image in international community,and to realize national normalization.However,the Japan's demand for north islands is jeopardized to Russia's sovereignty policy,while the former's sanctions against Russia regarding Ukraine Crisis iced Russia-Japan relation.The recent deployment of SAAD system has deteriorated the bilateral relation further.Northern Territory issue is just a snapshot of diplomatic relation of Russia and Japan,and their continuing political actions would deserve our close analysis.