Japan protests against Chinese delegates' visit to Russia-held island

A Chinese business delegation from northeastern Heilongjiang Province recently visited a Japanese-claimed island off Hokkaido that is controlled by Russia.

Earlier this month, the delegation of Heilongjiang businesspeople and government officials paid a rare visit to Iturup in the disputed South Kuril Islands to survey tourism and aquaculture projects.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Wednesday that they are confirming relevant facts and will handle the matter appropriately in light of Japan's stance.

The country's foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi says it is "completely unacceptable" for government officials, business representatives and others from third countries to enter and conduct activities there and treat them as though they were Russian territory.

In Beijing, authorities confirmed the delegates visited Russia's Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, capital of Heilongjiang's friendship state Sakhalin Oblast, adding they do not comment on the business activities of private enterprises.