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Comment by sharikous | Hacker News Reader

What would be the value (economical, strategical) of those islands for Japan? Apart from the sentimental one?

When asking the question “what is the value of those islands/rocks-in-the-sea?” the answer is always 'EEZ boundaries'. I.e., having extra bits of land in the middle of the sea enlarges your exclusive economic zone where you can exploit resources in the ocean and below the ocean bed (oil) significantly. Which is why so many disputes exist over really boring bits of rock jutting out of the water.

See also: Rockall, a rock in the North Atlantic which is "25 metres (80 ft) wide and 31 m (102 ft) long" all of which gets wet in a storm. The UK claims it as territory.

1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockall

The UK has also explicitly disavowed an EEZ extension based on Rockall (UNCLOS doesn’t allow it).

(They do claim territorial seas around it, but that’s 12nmi instead of 200nmi.)

Another good example is Hans island. Though the two parties are arguing in a quite civilized manner.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Island

"In 1984, the Danish Minister for Greenland planted the Danish flag on the island and left a little message saying "Velkommen til den danske ø" (English: Welcome to the Danish Island).[12] It is also said he left a bottle of brandy;[12] however, this seems to have been Schnapps,[13] which, unlike brandy, is a traditional Danish spirit. It is commonly told, internally in the Danish Navy, that it was specifically a bottle of Gammel Dansk, which translates literally to 'Old Danish'. The Canadians have reciprocated with their own sign, the flag of Canada and a bottle of Canadian Club.[14]"

Japan's case https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinotorishima

EEZ boundaries are huge. Up to 200 miles from your coast.

Yeah. A 1 square meter rock can grant 125,000 km2 of EEZ. Hence island disputes.

I imagin if it’s anything like the UK and all it’s various islands it’s about fishing and drilling rights.

So much comes down to natural resources.

For anyone unaware of the place, consider where Scotland's westernmost point is! :-) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockall

None whatsoever. But that is exactly the point of reaffirming their claim now. Russia can choose to climb down over something insignificant in order to gain a potential ally. Japan would thereby become a credible broker for peace.

I'm doubtful about Japan becoming allies with the Russians. Japan is an American ally, depends heavily on them for military defense, and the public sentiment is very much against Russia right now.

Russian bombers, fighter jets, missiles launched from those Iislands can reach Hokkaido and/or Tokio much quicker than when launched from more northern islands, leaving less time for countermeasures. Same for ground troops.

It's a few tens of kilometers. Not significant.

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