A dialogue between Emmanuel Todd and an Asahi Shimbun editorialist reframes Japan–Russia relations and the Northern Territories issue from a higher strategic perspective, emphasizing balance as the core principle of great-power politics.

Russia fully understands Japan’s strategic importance.
In international politics, great powers always seek balance.
2016-10-31
The following continues from the previous chapter.
All emphasis in the text, except for the heading, is mine.

Todd: “The Northern Territories Issue, from a Higher Perspective”

Wakamiya Yoshibumi
By the way, Mr. Todd, you place importance on Russia and have written that improving Japan–Russia relations would serve as a check on the United States and China.
Emmanuel Todd
I have been saying that all along.
Russia fully understands Japan’s strategic importance.
In international politics, great powers always seek balance.
Wakamiya
However, even fifty years after the normalization of Japan–Soviet relations, the Northern Territories issue remains unresolved, and we have been unable to build a strategic relationship.
Todd
Russia has not forgotten its defeat in 1905, and Japan has not forgiven the Soviet Union’s entry into the war at the end of World War II.
Yet France and Germany, despite having killed each other repeatedly, now enjoy an excellent relationship.
The same applies to German–Russian and Japan–U.S. relations.
Japan and Russia should be able to reach that point as well.
Wakamiya
Japan insists that all four Northern Islands be returned, while Russia refuses to concede beyond two.
Todd
Then how about settling for three, he laughs.
Wakamiya
It is not that simple, but both sides may need a shift in thinking.
Russia resolved its border dispute with China through a fifty–fifty compromise.
Todd
The key to resolution is whether there is a genuine desire to get along.
Off the coast of Normandy in northern France, there are islands seized by Britain from France, yet they are not an issue.
Corsica in the Mediterranean once belonged to Italy, but no one demands its return.
Wakamiya
Between Japan and South Korea there is an even smaller island, and…
Todd
That is precisely “false nationalism.”
It has little to do with the essence of national interest.
In resolving such disputes, both sides must adopt a higher perspective.
That is, they should launch joint projects.
They could do something together even in the Northern Territories.
Wakamiya
Now I understand that you are a pacifist, Mr. Todd, he laughs.