Japan Objects to Russian Military Construction on Disputed Islands

Buildings jeopardize Abe’s goal of reaching a settlement and preventing a closer alignment between Moscow and Beijing

James Marson in Moscow and

Ala

stair Gale in Tokyo

Dec. 18, 2018 12:49 p.m. ET

Japan said it would protest Russia’s construction of military facilities on islands at the center of a decadeslong dispute that the countries had been trying to resolve.

The comments Tuesday by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono came after the Russian Ministry of Defense said it would open four accommodation blocks for service members’ families on Dec. 25 and was completing construction of a storage facility for military vehicles on the islands, which lie to the northeast of Japan’s main islands.

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