One river for three countries: Russia, China and the DPRK will decide how to provide the Chinese with access to the Sea of Japan
Russia, China and North Korea will soon begin talks to allow Chinese ships to pass through the Tumen River border into the Sea of Japan, Nikkei Asia reports.
The Tumannaya River flows along the border of China, North Korea, and Russia and empties into the Sea of Japan. Chinese vessels are currently only able to navigate the river freely as far as the village of Fangchuan and are unable to access the sea, as they require permission from Russia and North Korea to navigate the remaining 15-kilometer stretch.
At the same time, the Friendship Bridge, built between North Korea and Russia back in the Soviet years, is an additional obstacle to the passage of large Chinese ships.
After their meeting in May, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin included in a joint statement a clause on the participation of the Russian Federation and China in a “constructive dialogue” with North Korea regarding the Tumannaya River.
Before this, Beijing had repeatedly called on Moscow and Pyongyang to allow Chinese ships passage along the river into the Sea of Japan, proposing the creation of a special economic zone along its banks, the publication notes.
China is also considering the possibility of expanding Tumannaya in its lower reaches and demolishing the bridge with the approval of the Russian and North Korean sides.
“Previously, Russia did not support this Chinese initiative, fearing that Beijing would thereby increase its influence in Northeast Asia. However, against the backdrop of sanctions imposed against the Russian Federation for its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow is becoming increasingly dependent on the Chinese side. Russia has increased oil exports to China, and Moscow also depends on Beijing for the supply of electronic components and cars. Imports from China increased to 37% of the total in 2023, up from 22% before the start of the war.
In August 2023, the Chinese state-owned “Cartographic Service of Standard Maps” presented a set of geographic maps for 2023, on which for the first time the Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island on the Amur River was presented as part of China.
According to a 2008 treaty between Russia and China, the island was divided between the two countries. However, on the new official map of the People's Republic of China, the entire island was designated as Chinese territory . The explanatory note stated that "the map was drawn up in accordance with the national standards for delineating the borders of China and other countries."
The island is located near Khabarovsk on the Amur River and downstream of the mouth of the Ussuri River. It is divided between Russia and China. China previously claimed full ownership of Bolshoy Ussuriysky.
However, disagreements on this issue were resolved. The signing of an agreement on the joint development of the previously disputed Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island became one of the agenda items following the joint declaration of the leaders of China and Russia. Now it has the potential to become a symbol of the two countries' friendship.
One river for three countries: Russia, China , and North Korea will decide how to provide the Chinese with access to the Sea of Japan.