China defies Mao's support for Japan in Russia islands row

China Up Close looks at how China has been involved in a territorial dispute between Japan and Russia. Four small islands off Japan's Hokkaido were occupied by Soviet Union troops in the closing days of World War II and have been placed under Russia's effective control. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Etorofu Island, the largest of the four, in August. In addition, a delegation from China's northeastern province of Heilongjiang recently landed there for what Beijing called private activities. China's involvement in the dispute goes back to 1964, when founding father Mao Zedong told Japanese lawmakers in Beijing that China would support Japan's position. But with China and Russia now drawing closer, Beijing's stance has slightly changed. Commenting on the Heilongjiang delegation, China's Foreign Ministry said the country believes "the outcomes of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War must always be respected and upheld." This can be interpreted as China indirectly recognizing Russia's claims on the islands. China has not explicitly withdrawn its support for Japan's position in the territorial dispute but it now has a tool it can use to pressure Japan on the Taiwan issue.