China invokes World War II’s outcome after Japan objects to Etorofu visit
China declined to comment on private companies’ activities after a Heilongjiang delegation’s Etorofu visit drew a Japanese objection. At her October 14 briefing, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the outcome of World War II should be respected and preserved. Japanese newspapers interpreted the response as sympathetic to Russia’s position on the disputed island.
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Mao Ning declines to discuss private business activity
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning declined to comment on private companies’ commercial activities when questioned about a Heilongjiang delegation’s visit to Etorofu. Questions at her 14 October briefing in Beijing also addressed Japan’s objection to the visit. The Japanese government had asked China to take an appropriate response. Etorofu is the island at the centre of the sovereignty disagreement between Japan and Russia.[1], [2]
China invokes the outcome of World War II
Responding to Japan’s reaction, Mao repeated China’s position that the results of victory in World War II should be respected and preserved. She said the delegation had taken part in friendly exchanges in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, in Russia’s Far East. The questions concerned the delegation’s Etorofu visit, while her account named the exchanges in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.[1]
Japanese newspapers interpret the diplomatic response
Yomiuri and Sankei interpreted the response as sympathetic to Russia’s position on the island. Sankei linked that interpretation to Russia’s view that the island became its territory following the war. The sovereignty disagreement between Japan and Russia remains the context for Japan’s objection and China’s response. The newspapers’ interpretation describes the diplomatic position rather than a legal ruling on sovereignty.[1], [2]
