The Japan Times2h ago
China has called on the Philippines to help create the conditions needed to stabilize and improve bilateral relations after officials concluded two days of talks on their territorial disputes in the South China Sea. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/30/asia-pacific/china-philippines-ties-maritime-row/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #southchinasea #disputedislands #china #philippines #southeastasia
China urges Philippines to stabilize ties amid maritime row

Officials held a 'candid and in-depth' exchange of views on relations, and international and regional issues over the weekend.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMar 2
Students from Okinawa Prefecture have visited the city of Nemuro, Hokkaido, to learn firsthand about issues related to disputed islands that Russia controls. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/02/japan/okinawa-northern-territories/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #okinawa #students #education #hokkaido #northernterritories #russiajapanrelations #wwii #disputedislands #russia #sovietunion
Okinawa students visit Hokkaido to learn about disputed islands

Over 80 years after Soviet forces seized four islands from Japan, former Japanese residents remain unable to return to their hometowns.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesFeb 22
South Korea protested a Japanese government ⁠event regarding a cluster of disputed islands between the two countries, calling the move an unjust assertion of sovereignty over its territory. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/22/japan/politics/takeshima-south-korea-protest/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #takeshima #southkorea #southkoreajapanrelations #seoul #disputedislands #shimane
South Korea protests Japanese event over disputed islands

The tiny islets, known as Takeshima in Japan ⁠and Dokdo in South Korea, which controls them, have long been ⁠a source of tension between the neighboring countries.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesFeb 8
Japan will continue to push for a restart of a program for former residents of Russian-held northwestern Pacific islands to visit the graves of their ancestors there, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/08/japan/japan-rally-northern-territories-return/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #disputedislands #northernterritories #hokkaido #sanaetakaichi
Japan to continue push for restart of visits to Northern Territories

The visits, which allowed former residents to visit the graves of their ancestors on the Russian-held island, were halted for reasons including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesFeb 3
Since late last year, some Japanese officials have been discreetly urging fishermen around the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyu in China — to steer clear of them to avoid escalating a diplomatic clash with Beijing. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/03/japan/china-senkaku-fishermen/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #senkakus #disputedislands #chinajapanrelations #okinawa #ishigaki #japancoastguard #eastchinasea
Fearing clash with China, Japan asks fishermen to avoid flash point islands

The requests signal an abrupt shift after years in which Tokyo tacitly accepted such trips.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJan 18
As ASEAN chair, the Philippines foreign minister is aiming for an ‘effective and substantive’ code of conduct for the disputed South China Sea — a daunting task that has eluded the Southeast Asian bloc for years. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/18/asia-pacific/politics/philippines-foreign-secretary-coc-south-china-sea/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #philippines #theresalazaro #china #southeastasia #asean #southchinasea #disputedislands
As ASEAN chair, Philippines aims for ‘effective’ South China Sea code of conduct

The Philippine’s top diplomat, Theresa Lazaro, is aiming to tackle the daunting task that has eluded the Southeast Asian bloc for years.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesNov 16
A new facility has opened at the National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, aiming to help visitors to learn about Japan's territory through immersive video presentations. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/16/japan/territory-museum-open/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #tokyo #china #korea #museums #senkakus #takeshima #disputedislands
New facility opens at Japan's territory museum

The 300-square-meter facility, called gateway hall, also has a library housing related books.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesOct 31
Russia said any dialogue with Japan regarding a peace treaty to formally end World War II could only begin once Tokyo abandoned what Moscow described as a damaging “anti-Russian” stance. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/31/japan/politics/russia-japan-peace-talks/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #russiajapanrelations #russia #northernterritories #disputedislands
The Japan TimesOct 12
The Philippines said a Chinese ship deliberately rammed one of its government vessels in the disputed South China Sea on Sunday, though Beijing blamed Manila for the incident. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/12/asia-pacific/china-philippines-south-china-sea-clash/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #china #philippines #southchinasea #disputedislands
China and Philippines trade blame over boat collision in disputed sea

Confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels occur frequently in the contested South China Sea.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesOct 1
Outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have agreed on the value of maintaining “stable” ties, amid concerns the next Japanese government could take a harder line on relations. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/01/japan/politics/japan-south-korea-seek-stability-in-summit/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #southkoreajapanrelations #southkorea #shigeruishiba #leejaemyung #takeshima #disputedislands #history #sanaetakaichi
Japan and South Korea tout stable ties, but concerns rise over Ishiba’s replacement

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung looked to regularize “shuttle diplomacy,” but much may hinge on Japan’s next leader.

The Japan Times