Russia deploys anti-ship missiles on disputed isles off Hokkaido

VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA – The Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet has deployed state-of-the-art anti-ship missile systems on two of the islands off Hokkaido claimed by Japan, the fleet’s newspaper reported recently.

The Bastion missile system has been installed on Etorofu Island and the Bal system on Kunashiri Island, according to the report.

Russia will build 392 buildings for military garrisons in Kuril Islands — defense minister

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. Russia’s special construction agency Spetsstroi is to put up some 400 buildings and facilities on the Iturup and Kunashir islands of the Great Kuril Ridge, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Tuesday.

“A total of 392 buildings and facilities are to be put up. Only advanced pre-fabricated structures easy to assemble will be used,” Shoigu said while holding a distance conference with the armed forces’ senior commanders.

Russia to Build 150 Military Facilities on Kuril Islands

MOSCOW, April 18 (RIA Novosti) – Russia will build more than 150 military facilities on the Iturup and Kunashir islands, part of the Kuril chain disputed by Japan, a senior military commander told reporters Friday.

“All decisions on the construction of military stations on the Iturup and Kunashir islands have been made and approved,” said Col. Gen. Sergei Suvorkin, the head of Russia’s Eastern Military District.

“All essential facilities, more than 150, will be built before 2016,” he added.

Japan Scrambles Fighter Jets to Track Russian Bombers

From the state-run Russian propaganda outlet, RIA Novosti:

TOKYO, July 16 (RIA Novosti) – Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force had to scramble fighter jets in response to flights by Russian military aircraft near Japanese airspace and over the disputed Kuril Islands on Monday, local media reported.

Two Tu-95 Bear bombers flew over the Sea of Japan moving from the Korean Peninsula, and proceeded along the Japanese archipelago to the north of Hokkaido. Another plane, the IL-20, flew over the Kuril Islands, NHK television said late Monday citing the Defense Ministry.

Russian fighter jets ‘breach Japan airspace’

From a larger picture perspective, it seems that the Soviets are sending Japan a message for their strategic partner China. This also seems to be Shanghai Cooperation Organization sabre rattling. If Japan can hold its own against the CCP, a partner needs to step in and test the resolve a little more.

Two Russian fighter jets have violated Japanese airspace, prompting Tokyo to scramble its own aircraft, reports say.

Japan lodged a protest after the planes were detected off the northern island of Hokkaido for just over a minute.

The incident happened after Japanese PM Shinzo Abe said he was seeking a solution to a territorial dispute with Russia over a Pacific island chain.