Chinese delegation travels to Etorofu, island at center of Japan-Russia row

A delegation from China has visited Etorofu, one of four Russian-controlled islands in the northwestern Pacific claimed by Japan, the government of the Sakhalin region in the Russian Far East said Tuesday.

The visit by local government officials and business representatives from China’s northeastern province of Heilongjiang, which borders Russia, came as part of Sakhalin’s efforts to attract investment to the island.

Sakhalin Gov. Valery Limarenko said that the Kuril Islands, including the four disputed islands which are known as the Northern Territories in Japan, have great potential for tourism and business development. He said that the regional government is looking to create a favorable environment for investors.

The move also appears to be aimed at expanding economic cooperation between Russia and China.

According to the Sakhalin government’s announcement, Chinese business representatives showed particular interest in sea urchin and sea cucumber aquaculture. They also expressed willingness to work with local companies to build a seafood-processing facility.

The delegation also inspected potential sites for tourism infrastructure, amid calls for more accommodation facilities for tourists on the Kuril Islands.

Russia designated the Kuril Islands as a special tax-free zone in 2022, exempting businesses from corporate tax. Foreign firms are also eligible for preferential treatment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Etorofu in August, his first visit to any of the four disputed islands, and inspected facilities including a seafood-processing factory.

At an economic forum held in the Far East city of Vladivostok last month, Putin stressed that tax incentives on the islands have been successful and indicated that Moscow will continue promoting economic development in the region.

Japan strongly criticized Putin’s visit to Etorofu, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi calling it “absolutely unacceptable.” Russia, in turn, slammed Tokyo’s criticism.

The four islands were seized by the former Soviet Union from Japan at the end of World War II, but Tokyo has maintained its claim ever since. The territorial dispute has prevented Tokyo and Moscow from concluding a peace treaty to formally end their wartime hostilities.

On Tuesday, Takaichi told reporters at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo that her government is working to confirm the facts surrounding the Chinese mission’s visit to Etorofu and will “respond appropriately in line with our country’s position (on the islands).”