Japan’s dilemma over frosty ties with Russia deepens after reporter’s arrest | South China Morning Post            (japans-dilemma-over-frosty-ties-russia-deepens-after-reporters-arrest.html)                                           (../../../../static/manifest.json)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/favicon.ico)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/icons/scmp-icon-192x192.png)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/icons/scmp-icon-256x256.png)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/icons/scmp-icon-192x192.png)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/icons/scmp-icon-192x192.png)  (https://amp.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3371438/japans-dilemma-over-frosty-ties-russia-deepens-after-reporters-arrest)  (https://apigw.scmp.com)  (https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com)  (https://cdn.i-scmp.com)  (https://img.i-scmp.com)  (https://cdn1.i-scmp.com)  (https://cdn2.i-scmp.com)  (https://cdn3.i-scmp.com)  (https://cdn4.i-scmp.com)  (https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com)  (https://ad-tech.scmp.com)  (https://c.amazon-adsystem.com)  (https://cdn.keywee.co)  (https://cdn.mouseflow.com)  (https://cdn.opecloud.com)  (https://cdn.petametrics.com)  (https://connect.facebook.com)  (https://fonts.googleapis.com)  (https://fonts.gstatic.com)  (https://js-sec.indexww.com)  (https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net)  (https://widgets.scmp.com)  (https://www.doubleclickbygoogle.com)  (https://www.facebook.com)  (https://www.google-analytics.com)  (https://www.googleadservices.com)  (https://www.google.com)  (https://www.googletagmanager.com)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/4a9777f1b0526d0c.css)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/024d37ad54557c14.css)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/127ae35205af64c7.css)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/bd5ebf0790610eb8.css)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/a070c9513bea1763.css)    (../../../../../fonts.googleapis.com/icon@family=Material+Icons&display=swap.css)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/4a9777f1b0526d0c.css)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/024d37ad54557c14.css)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/127ae35205af64c7.css)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/bd5ebf0790610eb8.css)  (../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/a070c9513bea1763.css)        (https://www.scmp.com/?module=masthead&pgtype=article)       (https://www.scmp.com/?module=masthead&pgtype=article)                             (https://www.scmp.com/search?module=masthead&pgtype=article)     (https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics?module=masthead&pgtype=article) Politics  -       (https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics?module=masthead&pgtype=article) Politics  Japan’s dilemma over frosty ties with Russia deepens after reporter’s arrest  (https://www.scmp.com/?module=masthead&pgtype=article)                                                        Advertisement     (https://www.scmp.com/topics/japan?module=breadcrumb&pgtype=article) Japan  (https://www.scmp.com/week-asia?module=breadcrumb&pgtype=article) This Week in Asia   (https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics?module=breadcrumb&pgtype=article) Politics    Japan’s dilemma over frosty ties with Russia deepens after reporter’s arrest   Given Japan’s lack of response to recent provocative Russian moves, Moscow could be emboldened to antagonise Tokyo further, analysts say       4-MIN READ 4-MIN                                 Listen            (Russian security service footage of the arrest of a Japanese journalist accused of espionage, on a smartphone in Moscow. Photo: AFP)       (A video image of the arrest of a person, identified by Russia’s Federal Security Service as a Japanese journalist for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper and accused of gathering information on Russia’s defence capabilities, at an unidentified location. Photo: Rossiya-24/Reuters)                                 (https://www.scmp.com/author/julian-ryall) Julian Ryall in Tokyo   Published: 8:25am, 20 Oct 2026 Updated: 6:28pm, 20 Oct 2026     The arrest of a Japanese journalist in Russia has finally woken Tokyo up to the fact that Moscow is playing hardball in their diplomatic relationship, and the country’s apparent unwillingness to push back with commensurate force could encourage the Kremlin to test its neighbour’s resolve, analysts say. (https://www.scmp.com/topics/japan?module=inline&pgtype=article) () Japan  lodged an official protest with the Russian ambassador in Tokyo on Wednesday, a day after Moscow announced the arrest of Yuki Imai from the Hokkaido Shimbun Press on suspicion of espionage. He was taken into custody in Russia’s far eastern Sakhalin region, with Moscow accusing him of obtaining details of mobilised Russian soldiers in the region. Russia has released footage of Imai’s arrest and his transfer to Lefortovo Prison in Moscow. An official of the Japanese embassy in Moscow has been refused access to speak with Imai.  Japanese Prime Minister (https://www.scmp.com/topics/sanae-takaichi?module=inline&pgtype=article) () Sanae Takaichi  has denied that the journalist was conducting espionage for Tokyo, a position echoed by his employer.                                  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