08 November 2012, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda canceled his trip to Russia.  However, he claims it was due to scheduling problems on the Russian side.  Analysts suspect it’s actually over growing territorial disputes.

To add to that, Japan’s Foreign Minister, Koichiro Gemba, told reporters on 07 November, that the prime minister will avoid talking to Chinese and Korean officials at the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.  The reason was the growing disputes over islands, one of which Japan recently purchased from a independent owner, with plans for militarization of the island (such as early warning stations).

The island isn’t much to look at, it’s a rock sticking out of the ocean.

Gemba also said that now that Barack Obama has been re-elected, Japan will pressure the United States to increase military ties to help bolster Japan as it’s expected the territorial disputes will escalate.

Japan’s Ambassador to the U.S., Ichiro Fujisaki, said as much in a press conference in Washington DC, on 07 November.  He pointed out that the disputed Senkaku Islands are covered under the current U.S.-Japan security treaty.