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Free Republic of Nias

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Free Republic of Nias Freie Republik Nias (German)
1942
Anthem: Indonesia Raya
Territory of the Free Republic of Nias
Capital	Gunungsitoli
Common languages	Indonesian Nias German
Prime Minister
• 1942	Ernst Leo Fischer
Minister of Foreign Affairs
• 1942	Albert Vehring
Historical era	World War II
• Republic declared	29 March 1942
• North Nias occupied by Japan	17 April 1942
• South of Nias occupied by Japan	22 April
Preceded by Succeeded by Dutch East Indies Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies
Today part of	Indonesia

The Free Republic of Nias (Indonesian: Republik Nias Merdeka, German: Freie Republik Nias) was a short-lived and unrecognised state proclaimed by German prisoners on Nias Island, Indonesia, with Ernst Leo Fischer as Prime Minister and leader. The state lasted less than a month until the island was fully occupied by Japanese forces on 22 April 1942.

Background

Sinking of the SS Van Imhoff

S.S. Van Imhoff in Gorontalo Bay

On 10 May 1940, Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands. The Dutch government in the Dutch East Indies retaliated by arresting German nationals. Before the war, German nationals fled their homeland from 1930 to find protection in the Dutch East Indies. During the Second World War, they were regarded and treated as ordinary German citizens and also held in internment camps. The Dutch government on Nias, led by J.L. Plas as supervisor (Dutch liaison for indigenous peoples) of the region, began to arrest German missionaries and doctors whose predecessors had been active since the 1880s in North Sumatra.

Meanwhile, north of Nias, in the town of Kutacane, Aceh, around 2,400 German men and women were imprisoned by Dutch troops. These included Basel and RMG missionaries, doctors, hospital nurses, engineers, artists and German Jews living in the Dutch East Indies. Most of them were detained in the Fort de Kock and Alas Valley camps, both on the island of Sumatra.

In February 1942, Japanese troops landed at Air Bangis, Sumatra. Knowing of the impending Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies, the Dutch government planned to send 2300 German citizens to British Raj. The prisoners were moved to Sibolga on the north coast of Sumatra and then transported to India in groups via three KPM ships assigned for this mission, namely SS Plancius, SS Ophir, and SS Van Imhoff.

SS Van Imhoff was a ship of the Dutch shipping company Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij (KPM). The ship was built twice. The first ship was sunk in 1911. The second ship of the same name was built in 1914 at Fijnenord. The SS Van Imhoff was named after the German-born Governor-General of the Indies, Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff.

On 15 January 1942, the Captain of the SS Van Imhoff, M.J Hoeksema received orders from Padang to depart from Sibolga for India.

On 18 January 1942, the van Imhoff departed carrying 478 German internees and 110 Dutch, 62 of whom were KNIL soldiers.

The first two groups arrived in India. But on 19 January 1942, the third group, SS Van Imhoff, was attacked by Japanese bombers about 177 km off the west coast of Sumatra and badly damaged. The first two bombs exploded near the ship, but the third bomb hit the van Imhoff ship right.

Captain Hoeksema panicked and ordered all the lifeboats to be released into the sea. However, one lifeboat could not be lowered and was left unattended. One of the guards asked Captain Hoeksema to put the prisoners on the lifeboat, but Captain Hoeksema refused because there was no order to release the prisoners. He also considered all prisoners to be enemies. Thus the prisoners were abandoned by the captain and crew who left in a lifeboat.

Of the 478 German internees and 110 Dutch, 48 were crew and 62 of whom were KNIL soldiers, 201 survived the drowning, while 276 inmates drowned immediately. 134 survivors, who were on the raft, later drowned. Only 67 reached Nias. Among the victims were a remarkable number of German Jews and anti-National Socialists whose citizenship in Germany had been withdrawn. Among the dead were veterinarian Professor Fritz Ludwig Huber, officer of the Order of Oranje Nassau, researcher Hans Overbeck, and artist Walter Spies from Germany, and Austrian sinologist Erwin Ritter von Zach.

After a few months, this incident reached Germany. This led the German authorities to arrest KPM employees in the Netherlands and send them to forced labour. KPM was also forced to pay 4 million guilders as compensation to the families of those who drowned on the van Imhoff.

Some people managed to escape on two remaining small boats without rudders and emergency rations and some rafts and were sighted by a Dutch Navy flying boat the next day . This called the Dutch steamer Boelongan for help, which arrived at the first lifeboat at around 9.20 a.m. Albert Vehring, one of the surviving prisoners, recounted that on 20 January 1942, the ship approached their raft. From a distance of 100 metres, the captain of the Boelongan, M. L. Berveling, asked through the megaphone if there were any Dutch in the boat. the castaways responded with "No, we are Germans." When his suspicions were confirmed and learned that the shipwrecked were all German civilian internees, he turned around and now headed for the bamboo rafts and the workboat, which were more than a kilometer away, without complying with the request for drinking water and food or admission on board. Berveling explained that did so as he had received the following instructions:

“First take the crew of the steamship van Imhoff on board, namely the European and local crew as well as the military personnel who were on board to guard the internees. After that, by order of the military commander, take on board trusted elements among the German internees (who were transported with the van Imhoff). Prevent the rest of the Germans from landing.”

Berveling had interpreted the orders to mean that he was not to take any German internees aboard. His stance apparently greatly angered the rest of his crew.

A few minutes later, another lifeboat, two rafts and castaways were sighted in the water from the Catalina, which was supposed to protect the ship from underwater attacks. The Boelongan, which was being piloted there, was there at around 10.40 a.m., but again did not take any of the castaways on board. Shortly after the Boelongan passed the castaways' vehicles, an aircraft attack on the steamer was observed from the Y-63. The testimony of Berveling, who claimed to have been attacked several times by the Japanese plane, was not consistent with testimonies from survivors in the lifeboat and observations by the Y-63 crew, who claimed that the plane veered away after dropping a single bomb. The occupants of the boats separated from the shipwrecked on the slow rafts on January 21, 1942, in the hope of being able to send help later.

Arriving in Nias

The 67 survivors who reached Nias were divided into two groups. The first, consisting of 53 prisoners, moved parallel to the coastline. On 21 January 1942, at 09.00, they saw a small beach with a reef in front of it. Hungry and thirsty, they finally washed up on the coast of South Nias, near Muara Eho. They descended and searched for signs of life, finding a small river but no food. That afternoon, a Dominican Catholic priest named Van Stralen appeared with two bottles of wine, promised to return the next day with a doctor and food, and guided him to some locals. The indigenous people declared that they were Christians and told him that they were on Nias.

On 23 January 1942, the condition of the surviving prisoners was getting worse.

On 24 January, After a long walk, the second group of 14 prisoners reached Hilisimaetano, the colonial administrative centre in South Nias. One of them, Albert Vehring, saw an isolated house. Some prisoners went to the house and the owner of the house felt threatened, cutting some coconuts for the group. The incident caught the attention of nearby villagers. One of the villagers was able to communicate with the prisoners who told him about the Van Imhoff incident. After the villagers left and the survivors went to sleep, one of them, Dr Heidt, was invited by the village chief to a meeting. The next day, after temporary hospitalisation, they were taken by local authorities to Gunungsitoli, the administrative centre of Nias.

As the second group marched towards Gunungsitoli, They found an oplet (local taxi), to take them to a nearby village. There, during a feast served by the locals, they were spotted by the Dutch authorities. Reluctant to treat them as prisoners, the Dutch authorities released them and let them go to Gunungsitoli on their own. The groups would then meet at a crossroads.

A truk 60 mi (97 km) from Gunungsitoli was waiting for the prisoners and transported them to the prison guarded by 38 veldpolities (customary guards) and some Dutch soldiers.

Coup d'etat

Nias coup d'etat 1942
Part of Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies
Date 28 March 1942 Location Nias, Dutch East Indies Result All non-German Europeans imprisoned Formation of the Independent Republic of Nias
Belligerents
German Prisoners Veldpolitie Nias	Dutch East Indies
Strength
67 German POWs 32 Veldpolitie	20 People
Casualties and losses
None	1 Dutchmen injured

After a few days in prison, word came that Sibolga, a city located on the mainland of Sumatra, had been occupied by the Japanese. The German prisoners convinced the bataknese native police, known as Veldpolities, to defect from the Netherlands on the grounds that Germany and Japan were winning the war. On 28 March 1942, the veldpolities revolted against their Dutch superiors. The veldpolities fired on Dutch houses and freed German prisoners. Albert Vehring states that the veldpolities emerged after the firefight had subsided. The veldpolities distributed firearms to the freed Germans from the prison armoury. The Dutch were unarmed as almost all the weapons were in the armoury: only a doctor and a Nias deputy had firearms at home. Although the German veldpolities and prisoners far outnumbered the Dutch, only one Dutchman was wounded.

Shortly after the shootout, the Dutch deputy resident, superintendent and chief of police on Nias, along with five British soldiers, several Dutch priests and other Dutch residents were arrested and imprisoned. At first, the Dutch and other prisoners thought that they would be shot, but later, learnt that the rebellious veldpolities had simply separated them into male and female prisons. Until, the Dutch arsenal was finally dismantled by the German internees and the Germans managed to take over Nias Island and detained several Dutch citizens including the assistant resident, controller, head of the Dutch police, 5 British escaped soldiers, a clergy, and other Dutch citizens.

Establishment

The next day, 29 March 1942, in collaboration with Nias leaders, the former German prisoners proclaimed the "Free Republic of Nias" in the name of Adolf Hitler. One of them, former head of the Bosch company in the Dutch East Indies, Ernst Leo Fischer, became the first prime minister. He appointed Albert Vehring, a former manager of Emil Helfferich's tea plantation in Java, as foreign minister. The declaration of the republic was greeted with joy by the local population, as they were the first people in the Dutch East Indies to overthrow the colonial rule of the Dutch government. Although the people of Nias had high hopes for the new republic, the Germans themselves did not take the republic seriously, as some considered it as a joke.

Knowing that the veldpolities would revolt if not paid, the Germans looted ƒ857,000 from the vice-resident's house and the pawnshop, consisting of three months' salary for all government employees in Nias and the residents' savings. Some of this was given to the veldpolities to ensure their loyalty, while some was kept by the Germans.

Nine patrol groups were formed to guard Nias, each consisting of a German and a veldpolitie armed with carbines. The Germans also took as many weapons as possible and occupied radio stations to contact the Japanese who had captured Sumatra. The attempt failed, as the Japanese and Germans could not understand each other.

Important Events

Dutch ship captures

On 31 March 1942, two Dutch ships, SS Sumatra and SS Salida, arrived in Gunungsitoli harbour. The Germans acted cautiously and approached with rifles. The captains, Bloemers and Flothuis, did not realise that the island was uninhabited by the Japanese and were surprised when they were held at gunpoint by German troops. Both were imprisoned by the Germans. The Germans learnt from the internees that a Dutch ship was chartered by the Japanese in Sumatra for ƒ7,000 to deliver rice from Nias. The Germans realised that the Japanese did not know they were on the island. One of the prisoners, Grasshof, used the radio to play a German military song and thus identified their presence to the Japanese troops.

Transportation of prisoners

To show their loyalty, the Germans decided to transport the Dutch and British citizens of Nias to mainland Sumatra 200km away, and hand them over to the Japanese. Along with Albert Vehring, they commandeered a ship to tow several open boats with the prisoners. On 6 April, they left Gunungsitoli for Sibolga, arriving later that day. When a small Japanese motorboat arrived, German soldiers stood to attention and greeted them with the Hitler salute, but the Japanese did not respond, as a way of demonstrating their authority. They were all investigated further in Medan. Albert Vehring suggested sending a Japanese officer and some Japanese troops to Nias but this was rejected due to suspicion on the part of the Japanese. Vehring was sent back to Nias, while the other prisoners were held by the Japanese in Sumatra. After a brief exchange of contact, the prisoners were taken away by the Japanese. On 12 April, a second wave of prisoners, accompanied by 22 Germans, travelled to Sibolga.

Dissolution

On 17 April 1942, the Japanese arrived on Nias with six ships and 120 to 200 soldiers to occupy Nias. Members of the government of the Free Republic of Nias – Leo Fischer, Albert Vehring, Dr. J.K.G Moeller, Edmund E.J.F Schroeder, Dr. Karl Heidt – and other Germans welcomed them at the harbour. The Japanese were greeted with the Nazi salute, and school children sang the Indonesian national anthem, "Indonesia Raya".

Although the island had been officially occupied by Japan, the Germans still managed to organise a small event to celebrate Hitler's birthday. The Germans brought a portrait of Hitler, and the event ended with a triple banzai and Nazi salute. On 22 April 1942, the Japanese occupied the southern part of the island by sea.

Japanese Occupation

After the Japanese occupied the island, the remaining Europeans on the island, regardless of nationality, were transferred to Sumatra on 24 April 1942. Only one German, Dr. Karl Heidt, remained as a doctor. The Japanese force doctor Heidt to stay behind as one of the few reliable medics around. However, his deepest wish is to start a medical practice again in Sumatra. Being alone on the island, he died on 2 September 1942 after committing suicide via an overdose of sleeping pills. His headstone on Nias near Gunungsitoli reads "Einsam aber unter Freunde gestorben" (Lonely but deceased among friends).

Bibliography

• Oktorino, Nino (2019), Seri Nusantara Membara: Invasi ke Sumatra (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Elex Media Komputindo, ISBN 978-602-04-8798-4
• Habsyah, Attashendartini; Sudiharto, Mooriati; Trihusodo, Putut (2008), Perjalanan Panjang Anak Bumi, Yayasan Obor Indonesia, ISBN 978-979-4616-54-3
• Oktorino, Nino (2020), Jejak Hitler di Nusantara - Petualangan, Intrik dan Konspirasi Nazi di Indonesia (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Elex Media Komputindo, ISBN 978-623-00-1536-6
• Geerken, Horst H. (2017), Hitler's Asian Adventure, Norderstedt: Books on Demand
• Anwar, Rosihan (2004), Sejarah kecil "Petite Histoire" Indonesia (in Indonesian), vol. 1, Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kompas
• Government of Dutch East Indies (1941), Regeerings-Almanak voor Nederlandsch-Indie (in Dutch), vol. 2, Batavia: Landsdrukkerij
• Information Bureau of North Sumatra (1953), Republik Indonesia: Propinsi Sumatera Utara (in Indonesian), Medan: Ministry of Information
• Womack, Tom (2015), The Allied Defense of the Malay Barrier, 1941-1942, McFarland, ISBN 978-1-4766-6293-0

Others

ASEAN accession process of East Timor
Current Status	Negotiating Observer
Overview Roadmap Adopted
Prerequisites & Negotiations Potential candidate status granted 20 May 2002 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation signatory 13 January 2007 Membership application 4 March 2011 APSC Screening 3 September 2019 ASCC Screening 6 July 2022 Application Approved 11 November 2023 Negotiations start 13 May 2023 Negotiations finish TBD
Travel ASEAN Visa Policy TBD
Economic & Monetary Policy ASEAN Free Trade Area TBD
Impact v v
International Institutions & Organizations ASEAN Regional Forum 30 July 2007 East Asia Summit When acceded

In acquired and occupied territories

As the Japanese extended their territorial holdings, shrines were constructed with the purpose of hosting Japanese kami in occupied lands. This practice began with Naminoue Shrine in Okinawa in 1890. Major shrines built across Asia included Karafuto Shrine in Sakhalin in 1910 and Chosen Shrine, Korea, in 1919; these shrines were designated just under Ise Shrine in national importance. Other shrines included Shonan Shrine in Singapore, San'a Shrine in Hainan Island (China), Japanese Shrine in Kolonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Akatsuki Shrine in Saigon, the Hokoku Shrine and Chinnan Shrine in Java, and the Yorioka Shrine in Sarawak.

The Japanese built almost 400 shrines in occupied Korea, and worship was mandatory for Koreans. A statement from the head of the Home Office in Korea wrote about the shrines in a directive: "…they have an existence totally distinct from religion, and worship at the shrines is an act of patriotism and loyalty, the basic moral virtues of our nation."

By 1937, more than 500,000 Jingu Taima shrines had been set up across households in Taiwan. Out of the 68 approved places of worship, 38 were constructed between 1937 and 1943. Schools and organizations were ordered to worship there.

In Manchuria, The Japanese conducted scholarly research on the local folk religion and built 366 Shrines, although without trying to impose Shinto on the native populations as it was the case in Korea and Taiwan, as the Manchurian State was conceived as a spiritually autonomous nation. while in the rest of the Chinese territory occupied by the Japanese, it is estimated that there are at least 51 shrines.

At least fifteen State Shinto shrines were established in the South Seas Mandate in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Shinto was primarily practised by Japanese settlers, but also by indigenous populations. The shrine at Jabor on Jaluit Atoll in the Marshall Islands was reportedly the easternmost shrine in the Japanese Empire. There were seven shrines built in the Mariana Islands, while other shrines were built on the more remote islands of Kosrae, Truk, Ponape, Yap and Lamotrek. The largest shrine in the mandate territories was the Nan'yō Shrine in Palau, with its significant Japanese population. It was located on the outskirts of Koror and dedicated in 1940.

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Habomai Islands incident

Habomai Islands incident
Part of the conflicts in territory of the former Soviet Union
JS Maya maneuvers into position to conduct naval gunfire on Russian positions on the island of Shibotsu-tō
Date 14 November 2026 – 14 January 2027 (2 months, 2 weeks and 1 day) Location Habomai Islands, Okhotsk Sea Result Japanese victory Territorial changes Japanese re-occupation of the Habomai Islands
Belligerents
Russia	Japan
Commanders and leaders
Russia Vladimir Putin Sergei Shoigu Valery Gerasimov Yevgeny Prigozhin (2014–2023) Alexander Zakharchenko (2014–2018) Denis Pushilin (2018–present) Pavel Gubarev (2014) Igor Girkin (2014) Leonid Pasechnik (2017–present) Igor Plotnitsky (2014–2017) Valery Bolotov (2014)	Japan Volodymyr Zelenskyy (2019–present) Petro Poroshenko (2014–2019) Oleksandr Turchynov (acting; 2014) Andrii Zahorodniuk (2019–2020) Stepan Poltorak (2014–2019) Valeriy Heletey (2014) Ihor Tenyukh (2014) Oleksandr Syrskyi (2024–present) Valerii Zaluzhnyi (2021–2024) Ruslan Khomchak (2019–2021)
Strength
For details of strengths and units involved at key points in the conflict, see: Combatants of the war in Donbas (2014–2022) Order of battle for the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Casualties and losses
Hundreds of thousands, reports vary widely. See Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian War for details.

The Habomai Islands incident, was a brief military conflict between Japan and Russia that took place from November 14, 2026, to January 28, 2027 on the Habomai Islands. The conflict was initiated against a backdrop of heightened tensions surrounding the disputed Kuril Islands, particularly the Habomai Islands. In late April 2026, a series of artillery bombardments by the Russian Navy in the region prompted Japan to garrison troops off the Nemuro Peninsula.^[1] The heightened tensions led to the hastening of the amendment of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution by the National Diet,^[2] allowing Japan to respond militarily.^[3][4] The ensuing conflict involved significant naval and ground engagements, drawing international attention to the ongoing territorial dispute.^[5][6][7] The war concluded with a ceasefire agreement,^[8][9] but did not resolve the underlying issues between the two nations regarding territorial claims.^[10]

Background

Kuril Island dispute negotiations and cancelation

Main article: Kuril Islands dispute

The Kuril Islands have been a point of contention between Japan and Russia since the conclusion of World War II. Following Japan's defeat in 1945, the Soviet Union seized control of the islands, leading to ongoing territorial disputes. Japan claims the southernmost islands, including the Habomai Islands, as part of its territory, while Russia maintains sovereignty over the entire Kuril chain. In the decades following World War II, diplomatic efforts to resolve the territorial disputes have been met with limited success.

In November 2019, Japan's foreign minister stated he would visit Russia in December for talks about a formal World War II peace treaty, in an effort to improve relations. However, the outbreak of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine prompted Japan's hardline stance on the disputed islands. The Japanese leadership had been reluctant to use language that could be seen as provocative by Russia when discussing the islands in recent years. When Shinzo Abe was asked if he considered the islands to be an integral part of Japan in 2019, he declined to respond so as not to damage negotiations with Russia. However, following the outbreak of Russia's war against Ukraine and the implication of sanctions against Russia, the Japanese government has returned to a more hardline stance on the islands as shown by Kishida's statement. Japan imposed sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Japan and Russia each expelled a number of diplomats and Russia halted peace negotiations with Japan that include talks on resolving the Kuril Islands dispute.

On March 7, 2022, in a House of Councillors Budget Committee session Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida described a chain of islets off the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido that have been long-disputed with Russia as Japan's "inherent territory". Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi added that they are an "integral part" of Japan. Also in solidarity with Ukraine over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Japan joined in the implementation of the Western-led sanctions against Russia and Belarus, by sanctioning a number of people linked to the Russian regime and revoking Russia's "most favored nation" status. Despite suggestions from LDP lawmakers, prime minister Kishida did not abolish the post of Minister for Economic Cooperation with Russia in the August 2022 reshuffle. The newly appointed minister Yasutoshi Nishimura stated there is no policy change in keeping interests in the Sakhalin-II oil and gas project in Russia, one of the world's largest integrated oil and gas projects owned by Gazprom, Shell, Mitsui and Mitsubishi.

On March 21, 2022, Russia announced its withdrawal from peace treaty talks with Japan and freeze of joint economic projects related to the disputed Kuril Islands due to sanctions imposed by Japan over Ukraine. Four days later, Russia started a military drill with over 3,000 troops and hundreds of vehicles on the Kuril Islands, including the disputed islands. Following close to the military activity within the Kuril islands, Japan redesignated the disputed islands as being under an "illegal occupation" in a draft for the 2022 Diplomatic Bluebook.

On June 7, 2022, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced Russia's intent to cancel a 1998 agreement with Japan allowing Japanese fishermen to operate near the southern Kuril Islands, claiming that Japan was "not meeting the financial obligations outlined within the agreement."

On September 5, 2022, a document was published signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin about Russia's unilateral withdrawal from a visa agreement which allowed former Japanese residents to visit the disputed islands without visas. The Russian lawmaker stated that this was due to Japan's participation in international sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine war.

On February 7, 2023, the 168th anniversary of the 1855 Treaty of Shimoda, Japan reaffirmed its position that it considers the four islands to be illegally occupied by Russia. In a statement, Fumio Kishida stated that "It is completely unacceptable that the Northern Territories have yet to be returned since the Soviet Union's illegal occupation of them 77 years ago". This was the first time in 5 years that the Japanese government had used the term 'illegal occupation' when referring to the four islands.

On March 22, 2023, Russia said it deployed a division of its Bastion coastal defense missile systems to Paramushir. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said it was to bolster Russian security around the Kuril Islands and partly in response to the United States efforts to "contain" Russia and China.

On April 21, 2023, Russia's prosecutor general designated the League of Residents of Chishima and Habomai Islands (Chishima Renmei) as "an undesirable organization". These former residents of the islands are likely barred from visiting the four disputed islands.

Russian military exercises

A JGSDF truck parks, while two CH-46E land. Stationed in Cape Nemuro

On November 23, 2025, amidst the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Japan and the announcement of a commitment by Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, to provide arms to Ukraine, tensions in heightened significantly. In this context, Russian Defence Minister, Andrey Belousov, issued a statement condemning what he referred to as "any acts of perceived aggression" and warned that such actions would be met with "grave consequences." This statement was part of Russia's broader response to perceived threats in the region and reflected a growing concern over increasing military collaboration between Japan and Western nations, particularly in support of Ukraine amid ongoing conflict.

On November 28, 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced a series of military exercises off the coast of the Sea of Japan and the Bering Strait. These exercises were characterized by a noticeable increase in naval activity and were viewed as a direct response to Japan's military cooperation with Ukraine. Intending to follow the successes of the 2023 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan. The exercises were modeled after the Chinese military maneuvers conducted around Taiwan in 2023, which had raised alarms in Japan and its allies regarding regional security. The first of these Russian naval exercises was conducted off the coast of Cape Crillon in Sakhalin. Under the command of Admiral Viktor Liina, the Russian Pacific Fleet engaged in live-fire drills intended to demonstrate military readiness and reinforce coastal defenses. During these exercises, a series of artillery shells were launched from the Russian cruiser Varyag, targeting uninhabited islands within the disputed territory. A critical turning point occurred when one of the shells inadvertently landed in waters claimed by Japan, resulting in an explosion that raised significant alarms within the Japanese government and military. This incident was perceived not only as a potential threat to Japanese territorial integrity but also as a deliberate provocation by Russian forces.

Following the incident, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, expressing deep concern over what was perceived as a provocative act by Russian forces. He stated that the incident represented not merely a misfire but a clear violation of Japanese sovereignty. The government faced intense public pressure to respond decisively, given the sensitive nature of the territorial dispute. On November 27, Japan declared a state of military readiness, indicating that the Self-Defense Forces would conduct joint exercises in the area to demonstrate resolve. This announcement further strained relations, as Russian officials interpreted Japan's military activities as a potential threat.

The situation escalated on November 28, 2025, when Japanese Self-Defense Forces commenced their exercises, which included live-fire drills in close proximity to the disputed islands.

Incident

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