After visiting the Self-Defense Forces, Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu announced that he wanted to sit down at the negotiation table with the Soviet Union. For a while, Japanese newspapers published photos of the Prime Minister giving a speech on a destroyer, and accompanied it with a speech by Kaifu Kaifu that he would reorganize the naval force, which caused an uproar in domestic public opinion.
Moreover, Toshiki Kaifu used domestic media to build political momentum for himself and portrayed himself as a top Japanese leader who is tough on foreign countries. One of the reasons was to increase his own votes. He will soon face a new round of prime minister elections. Even if he does not take back the four northern islands in the end and only maintains the deadlock, he can still get the support of the people's votes.
Yanayev, who was far away in Moscow, also saw the news that was published in Soviet newspapers. At this time, Yanayev had a rare opportunity to be liberated from his busy work. He enjoyed the warm afternoon sunshine on the balcony of the presidential holiday villa in the suburbs. He read the Japanese Prime Minister's speech word by word, shook his head with a disdainful expression, and said to himself, "The saddest thing for a country is that its comprehensive strength is not worthy of its growing political ambitions. Since experiencing explosive economic development, Japan's economic bubble must have begun to collapse gradually. The Plaza Accord of the United States ignited the fuse. This year, Japan's real estate economy will collapse like an avalanche. I'm just a little curious, when will their economy collapse?"
Pavlov, standing behind him, was grinding coffee in the kitchen, while Foreign Minister Boris Dmitrievich was sitting on the large sofa on the balcony. Yanaev did not have the slightest leadership demeanor in private, so Boris would not feel at a loss when facing his two superiors.
"Who knows? Let the Japanese solve their economic problems. We still have to solve the inevitable island dispute." Foreign Minister Boris crossed his arms and asked, "It is obvious that the leader of our small country in the south wants to take advantage of the most difficult time for the Soviet economy to take a risk and cut a piece of meat from us. When Gorbachev visited Japan this year, the Japanese Prime Minister proposed the condition of 'islands in exchange for economic aid', but nothing happened in the end."
"You mean that the Japanese, after hearing that we are preparing to disarm, are going to take another risk?" Yanaev was a little surprised. He had never expected that the outside world would view the Soviet Union's disarmament issue in this way. If the Soviet economy was really in that difficult situation, it would not be just a small-scale attempt at the beginning, but a complete gamble of selling the entire army.
"It seems to be a foregone conclusion that the Japanese will take the risk of taking back the four northern islands through negotiations and political pressure. Of course, these defeated generals of the Far East Army are not qualified to negotiate with us at all." Pavlov, who came in with coffee, said disdainfully.
"But I don't think it's that simple." Yanaev was thinking about Japan's next move. He stood up and walked to the railing. The villa was surrounded by birch trees. Yanaev's favorite thing to do was to stare at the birch trees. His thoughts gradually became clear in this peaceful atmosphere. He turned to Pavlov and said, "When we were discussing the issue of the four northern islands and the attitude of the Japanese government, we forgot one very important thing."
"What's the matter?" Boris and Pavlov asked in unison.
"Wait a moment." Yanaev turned and walked into the living room, then took out a book about Japan's political system from the bookshelf, turned to the page he wanted to read, and finally his eyes fixed on the third line. Then Yanaev breathed a sigh of relief as if he had just woken up from a dream.
Pavlov also came forward curiously and asked, "What's the matter, Comrade Yanaev?"
"We have been ignoring one thing before, that is the election of the Japanese Prime Minister." Yanayev suddenly realized and explained to Pavlov and Boris, "The Japanese government will hold an election next month. If I am not mistaken, the reason why Kaifu Junki showed a tough attitude at this moment is nothing more than to win more public support."
Boris scratched his head and asked in confusion, "It's true that the island dispute will inspire national cohesion, but it's a bit exaggerated to say that it can gain public support. They are just sitting at the negotiating table with us to discuss something that is doomed to have no results, instead of us handing over the four islands to the Japanese."
Yanayev shook his head and said, "You are wrong, Comrade Boris. In fact, as long as Kaifu Junshu can get us to the negotiation table, his goal will be achieved. Think about Kaifu Junshu's speech on the Kongo-class destroyer and the new warships he showed. They all point to his intention to fabricate some illusion that the Japanese navy is powerful in order to satisfy the national self-confidence of the domestic people, which has also expanded due to the rapid economic development. If we choose to negotiate, it will be considered that Japan's naval power made the Soviet Union surrender and willing to go to the negotiation table. In this way, whether Kaifu Junshu succeeds or not, his political votes will rise rapidly like a function equation."
At this point, Yanayev was a little amused. "I didn't expect Kaifu Junshu to be so scheming. Doing this will not affect the mood of our Soviet Union, and will also take into account the self-confidence of the domestic people. He is really an old fox."
"Of course we won't let Prime Minister Kaifu Toshiki's plan go as he wishes." Yanayev drummed his fingers on the table, thinking about how to make Japan look bad on this issue. Of course, the Soviet Union could not drive tanks and bombers directly into the territory of the member states like it did during the Baltic Crisis. Japan is a sovereign country, and such a provocation is tantamount to starting a war.
Another Pacific Fleet military exercise? Yanayev shook his head. Now was a time of fiscal austerity in the Soviet Union, and he would never support such a costly and laborious military exercise.
Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind. Yanayev stood up from the table, startling both Boris and Pavlov. He said to Boris, "Comrade Pavlov, I would like to invite you to Tokyo to meet with Kaifu Junshu. And Comrade Boris, when Pavlov arrives in Tokyo, you will immediately draft a statement and issue it, claiming that the four northern islands are the inalienable and inherent territory of the Soviet Union."
"What's the point of doing this?" Boris asked puzzled.
"Of course it makes sense." Yanayev narrowed his eyes, looked at the greenery outside the window, and said with a smile, "Since Kaifu Junshu wants to use the issue of the Northern Four Islands to stage a political show to win votes, we can also use the issue of the Northern Four Islands to stage a political show to change the image in the minds of the people."
**Note: Thank you @shalvot & @Soham_Suryawanshi for power stone.. Thank you