Hope Japan gets the message
Japan is going through a turbulent summer, which is reflected in its domestic political disorder, intensifying territorial disputes with neighboring countries, and the tough stands Russia, the Republic of Korea and China have taken in their territorial disputes with Japan.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev landed on Kunashir Island (part of the disputed islands known as the Southern Kuriles in Russia but as the Northern Territories in Japan) on July 3, and ROK President Lee Myung-bak visited the Dokdo Island (called Takeshima Island in Japan) on Aug 10 to reiterate the ROK's sovereignty over the island. And on Aug 19, the ROK unveiled a monument on Dokdo to commemorate the visit.
On Aug 17, Japan released the 14 Chinese nationals who were arrested after landing on one of the Diaoyu Islands on Aug 15. Though Beijing's diplomatic efforts had a big role to play in Tokyo's decision, it showed Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's tactics are different from that of his predecessor Naoto Kan.
