Japan has requested through diplomatic channels that a new world map adopted by the United Nations be corrected because the Northern Territories are shown in the same color as Russia. The background to the resolution and developments in Japan-Russia relations have also been reported.
The Japanese government announced that it had objected to the Northern Territories being shown in the same color as Russian territory on a new world map adopted by the UN General Assembly and had protested to the map’s operator, requesting a correction. The map is called the “Equal Earth map,” and the government explained that it contains depictions inconsistent with Japan’s position.
The resolution adopted a new map that depicts Africa on a larger scale and reduces the relative size of North America and Europe. Japan was among the 164 member states that supported the resolution, but it raised an objection to the depiction of the Northern Territories.
The disputed islands were occupied by the former Soviet Union in 1945, and Japanese residents were expelled. Japan-Russia relations are said to have deteriorated last month following President Putin’s surprise visit to the islands. Japan summoned the ambassador to Moscow, and the prime minister stated that the visit was “hurtful to the feelings of the Japanese people” and was unacceptable.
Russia countered that the move was politically inappropriate and rejected the statement. The dispute has emerged as a diplomatic issue over changes to geographical representations. The UN explained that the new map was intended to represent continental landmasses more accurately than the traditional Mercator projection.
sources:[{"outlet":"www.arabnews.jp","stance":"match"}]
facts:[{"k":"Map name","v":"The Northern Territories are shown in the same color as Russia on the new “Equal Earth map”},{"k":"Resolution","v":"The UN General Assembly adopts the new map"},{"k":"Response","v":"The Japanese government requests a correction through diplomatic channels"},{"k":"Background","v":"The disputed islands were occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, and residents were expelled"},{"k":"Related developments","v":"Japan-Russia relations deteriorated last month; Japan summoned the ambassador, and the prime minister made remarks"}]