Japan and Russia hold talks on security, territorial dispute

[TexasTowelie]

TOKYO (AP) — The foreign and defense ministers from Japan and Russia met in Tokyo on Monday for the first "two-plus-two" talks since Russia's annexation of Ukraine.

The one-day meeting comes as the sides work to end a decades-long territorial dispute that is blocking them from forging a peace treaty. At the same time, Japan, Russia, China and other countries are mulling how best to deal with North Korea's launches of missiles and its nuclear program.

Plans by the U.S. and its ally South Korea to deploy a state-of-the-art missile defense system known as THAAD, meanwhile, have antagonized Beijing and Russia.

Officials on both sides said the talks would largely focus on regional security.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/world/article/Japan-and-Russia-hold-talks-on-security-11013189.php

[elfin]

1. Interesting - The Japanese defeated Tsar Nicholas in the Russo-Japanese War in 1904

Over territory that also involved interests of the Chinese and Korea.Manchria area involved as well.

Settlement mediated by the USA and Teddy Roosevelt.

The region's various power struggles often escape our attention due to the Mideast having a near monopoly on our acute diplomacy activities.

However, diplomacy seems to be less important to our new regime, so we will probably have no part in these issues.