Iturup

The Japanese government has asked Russia to promptly provide information about the journalist's detention and to carry out proceedings in a fair manner.

Well, staying with the Northern Territories, the Sakhalin government has- says a Chinese delegation has visited Etorofu island, one of the four islands that Japan claims.

Russia controls the islands.

Japan claims them.

The Sakhalin government says the visitors included administrative officials and business people from the northern Chinese province of Heilongjiang.

The purpose was to study the feasibility of a joint project between Russia and China.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also visited Etorofu for the first time in August.

Russia is offering tax breaks and other measures to encourage domestic and international investment in the islands.

Chinese officials visit disputed island between Japan, Russia.

The government of Russia's Sakhalin region announced on October thirteenth that a Chinese delegation visited Etorofu Island, the largest of the disputed northern territories that are claimed by Tokyo and located off Hokkaido.

Visits to the four islands, which were seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II by non-Russian foreign delegations, are rare.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also made his first-ever visit to Etorofu in August, raising the possibility that Moscow could further harden its stance toward Japan in coordination with China.

According to the announcement, the delegation included government officials representing China's Heilongjiang Province, as well as business representatives.

They reportedly expressed interest in cooperation on sea urchin and sea cucumber aquaculture, as well as in the tourism sector.

Facing severe sanctions from Japan, the United States and Europe, Russia has become increasingly economically reliant on China.

Putin is believed to have refrained from visiting the islands in the past out of consideration for Japan.

[Instrumental music] Wednesday, October 14th, this is the The Asahi Shimbun Asia and Japan Watch news briefing.

Chinese officials visit disputed island between Japan, Russia.

The government of Russia's Sakhalin region announced on October 13th that a Chinese delegation visited Etorofu Island, the largest of the disputed Northern Territories that are claimed by Tokyo and located off Hokkaido.

Visits to the four islands, which were seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II, by non-Russian foreign delegations are rare.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also made his first-ever visit to Etorofu in August, raising the possibility that Moscow could further harden its stance toward Japan in coordination with China.

Facing severe sanctions from Japan, the United States and Europe, Russia has become increasingly economically reliant on China.

Putin is believed to have refrained from visiting the islands in the past out of consideration for Japan.

However, some observers in Russia say that the lack of any prospect for improvement in Japan-Russia relations prompted his visit to Etorofu Island.

No identity for the detained journalist was released in the FSB's statement.

The arrest came in the aftermath of a visit by Putin to Iturup in August, described as his first time setting foot on the islands.

Prime Minister Takeichi objected to the visit, describing it as being at odds with Japan's position on the Northern Territories and something her administration was not in a position to accept.

Russian officials summoned the Japanese ambassador and lodged a formal objection to statements made by Takeichi and other government members.

They also appear to be a request for Japan to soften its approach.

In August of this year, Putin visited Etorofu Island in the Northern Territories for the first time.

Russia controls the islands.

Japan claims them.