China Advancing Anti-US Strategy by Standing With Russia as Putin Visits Disputed Islands Near Japan: Analysts
Putin’s visit to the strategically important Kuril Islands is a China–Russia strategy to counter the U.S.–Japan alliance in the region, analysts said.
TL;DR
- China supported Russia when President Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands.
- Analysts suggest this is a joint China-Russia strategy to counter the Japan-U.S. alliance in the Asia-Pacific.
- Putin's visit was to Iturup/Etorofu, one of four islands in the Kuril chain.
- The Kuril Islands were annexed by the Soviet Union in 1945 after Japan's WWII surrender and have been occupied by Russia since.
- Japan maintains a claim to these islands as its Northern Territories.