When Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a disputed island chain near Japan on Aug. 13, drawing strong condemnation from Tokyo, the Chinese communist regime showed its support by issuing a joint statement with Russia. Analysts who spoke with The Epoch Times said the move is part of China-Russian strategy to counter the Japan-U.S. alliance in the Asia-Pacific.
It was Putin’s first visit to the island known in Russia as Iturup and in Japan as Etorofu—one of four in the disputed Kuril Islands.
Close to Japan’s main islands, the Kuril Islands were annexed by the former Soviet Union (1922–1991) in 1945 after Japan’s surrender in World War II. They have been occupied by Russia since then, despite Tokyo maintaining a claim to the islands as a part of its Northern Territories. …
China Advancing Anti-US Strategy by Standing With Russia as Putin Visits Disputed Islands Near Japan: Analysts
