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Japan -
Russia
·
On February
9, 2008
Japan
accused
Russia of
violating
its airspace
over the
Pacific Izu
islands and
demanded an
explanation
- Russian
Tupolev 95
bomber flew
over the
isle of
Sofugan,
650km south
of Tokyo
·
Japan
responded by
scrambling
22 jets and
lodging an
official
protest with
the Russian
embassy.
·
Russian air
force has
denied any
incursion
into
Japanese
airspace
·
Russia last
violated
Japan's
airspace in
January 2006
near
Rebun Island
near the
northern
island of
Hokkaido
·
Recently
Japan held
an annual
rally to
demand the
return of
four
disputed
islands -
known as the
Kurils in
Russia
and the
Northern
Territories
in Japan -
which Russia
seized in
the closing
days of
World War
II.
·
The dispute
has
prevented
the two
countries
from signing
a peace
treaty to
formally end
the war.
·
Despite
their
territorial
disputes,
Japan and
Russia have
recently
indicated
their desire
to improve
relations
·
Russia wants
Japanese
financial
support for
development
of its far
eastern
regions
while Japan
wants
greater
access to
Russia's oil
reserves.
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