Diplomatic Bluebook: Russia 'illegally Occupies' Japan's Northern Territories

The report says the world has now shifted to a period of full-scale races among sovereign states, notably between the United States and China, from the one where the US ensured stability and prosperity with its overwhelming political and military power.

It says Russia's ongoing military invasion of Ukraine has brutally undermined the foundation of an international order built over the past 100 years.

The report says acts to unilaterally change the status quo by force should never be tolerated wherever they happen.

It says Japan will let Russia know that it has to pay a high price for its series of attacks through sanctions coordinated with other countries.

Japan and Russia never signed a peace treaty after World War Two because of a dispute over four islands, or what Japan calls the Northern Territories. Russia controls the islands. Japan claims them.

The report says Japan is currently not in a position to forecast how bilateral talks toward a peace treaty will develop. Russia has said it is suspending the talks -- an apparent response to Tokyo's sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine.

In a bid to promote the talks, the report had not referred to the islands as being "illegally occupied" since 2003. This year's report also mentions for the first time since 2011 that the islands are "an inherent part of Japan's territory."

This year, Japan and China are marking the 50th anniversary of normalizing diplomatic ties. The report refers to China as a major security concern, as it maintains close ties with Russia. It also notes that China has been increasing and expanding its military activities near Japan.

The report also refers to North Korea. It says the country's repeated launching of various types of missiles can never be tolerated. It adds that Japan will seek full implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions in cooperation with the international community.