In Reckless Act that Tramples World Order, Russia Annexes Crimea

International tensions reminiscent of the Cold War era have emerged with Crimea as its stage, where leaders of the United States, United Kingdom and the [former] Soviet Union met to discuss post-World War II re-organization.

President Putin has declared the incorporation of southern Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula into Russia. It is a unilateral act that violates international law and tramples Ukrainian sovereignty.

An armed organization believed to be Russian troops stormed a Ukrainian military base on the peninsula, with Ukraine suffering a casualty. Acts that heighten military tensions absolutely cannot be allowed.

Russia’s attitude of trying to expand its territory by force will only deepen its isolation. Mr. Putin should promptly withdraw Russian troops from the Crimean peninsula and abandon annexation.

President Obama has called for holding a G-7 summit meeting at the Nuclear Security Summit opening next week at The Hague in the Netherlands.

I would like the G-7 to pull together, allow Russia to come to the discussion table, and find a way to achieve a peaceful resolution.

Clearly a Breach of International Law

Stressing the legitimacy of annexation, Mr. Putin stated in a speech about the Crimean peninsula, “In people’s hearts and minds, Crimea has always been an inseparable part of Russia.”

First Secretary Khrushchev of the [Communist Party in the] former Soviet Union transferred the Crimean peninsula from the territory of Russia to that of Ukraine in 1954. Because 60 percent of the population is Russian, there is a strong affinity toward Russia.

But even so, annexation is a discussion on a whole other level. Although annexation was approved, it was by forced referendum, ignoring the opposition of the international community — including Ukraine — while Russian troops seized the peninsula, so naturally this is unacceptable.

The United Nations Charter prohibits the threat or exercise of force. Russia and Ukraine confirmed the territorial integrity and inviolable borders of both parties in the Treaty of Friendship. The constitution of Ukraine also requires a national referendum for secession and independence.

Insistence of the legality of the annexation is unlikely to receive the international community’s understanding.

Permitting this kind of logic of force could also affect China’s trend of advancing military expansion.

We should avoid the foolishness of rushing into a “new Cold War era” of the U.S. and European Union versus China and Russia. Effort from the international community is hoped for.

G-7 Unity Is Essential

In a Russian government agency poll, domestic opinion seethed, with 91 percent support for annexing Crimea.

Mr. Putin’s political style indicates an inclination toward populism and nationalism. While economic growth slows, Mr. Putin handed out pensions and spending on social welfare programs as a countermeasure for anti-Putin demonstrations.

On the one hand, he has been struggling with political unrest caused by the rise of nationalism. However, his actions lately have elevated domestic nationalism. Mr. Putin’s approval rating exceeded 70 percent for the first time last week after his 2012 presidential comeback.

“The collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century,” Mr. Putin stated, setting his sights on Russia’s rebirth as a major world power. Assuming he would not stop at a confrontation with the West in order to boost domestic unity with the aim of long-term rule, this could be said to be a dangerous gamble.

The problem is, even though the U.S. and EU are considering further economic sanctions, they cannot take effective measures.

The United States, exhausted by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, does not wish to use military force. Likewise within the EU, which imports natural gas from Russia, there is a temperature difference concerning sanctions.

There is a need to strengthen G-7-centered unity. The dispatch of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitoring mission can be hastened as well.

Mr. Putin should hope that Ukraine will continue to be a buffer zone with the EU. Is there not plenty of room for negotiation?

Impact on Northern Territories

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned Russia for “violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.” He is considering further sanctions following the suspension of negotiations on easing visa requirements.

It is a weak response compared to the EU and United States, which have already taken steps to freeze assets and ban travel. Considering the effect on Japan-Russia bilateral relations, isn’t it lenient?

The impact on negotiations over the Northern Territories is unavoidable. With the territorial disputes, progress of the economic cooperation that has come to form the “two wheels of the car” will inevitably run into difficulty.

In 1945, the Soviet Union at that time declared war on Japan in violation of the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact and occupied the four northern islands, driving out the Japanese residents. The annexation of Crimea is of a similar construct in that it too ignores international law, taking possession of a territory against the backdrop of military force.

Japan, which has denounced Russia’s effective control of the Northern Territories, cannot possibly let this pass. The prime minister must deal with it with a resolute attitude.

From the position of protecting the world order, based on law and justice, we should strengthen the pressure on Russia in cooperation with the G-7 countries.

International relations over Ukraine’s situation will inevitably be complicated from now on. It is also important to make full use of our diplomatic power, and to play a role from a different perspective than that of the U.S. and EU.