Japan protests against possible Russian naval base on disputed Kuril island chain

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/29/japan-protests-russian-base-disputed-kuril-island-chain

Japan has conveyed its concern to Moscow over possible Russian plans to build a naval base on a western Pacific island chain, part of which is claimed by Tokyo.

Tokyo’s action follows Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu’s comment last week that Russia would study the possibility of building a naval base on what it calls the Kuril islands.

Japan claims a southern segment of the island chain, which was seized by Soviet troops at the end of the second world war. The territorial row has kept the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty since.

The disputed islands are called the Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kurils in Russia.

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