What does the first visit to the Kuril Islands by Vladimir Putin mean for China?

Diplomatic offensive signals growing alignment between Beijing and Moscow to isolate Tokyo ahead of key November summit

The Russian president’s symbolic visit on Thursday to the far east volcanic archipelago north of Japan’s Hokkaido – which Japan calls the Northern Territories – was days ahead of the anniversary on Saturday of Japan’s surrender in World War II.

It is Putin’s first visit to the islands as president. In 2010, then-president Dmitry Medvedev became the first Russian leader to visit the disputed territory that the Soviet Union took control of during the final days of the second world war.

Putin’s trip came after he personally observed the final phase of major Pacific Fleet exercises off Sakhalin, north of the Kurils.

“I think it’s a comprehensive, across-the-board effort to put pressure [on Japan] and make it uncomfortable,” said Li Lifan, a Russia and Central Asia specialist at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

“It also serves as a warning to Japan not to visit Yasukuni Shrine on the war anniversary on Saturday.”