A region in the northeast of China has been ruled by ethnic minorities since ancient times, such as Donghu, Xiongnu and Xianbei. The rule of northeast China and Sakhalin Island was realized when the Bohai regime in the northeast of Tang Dynasty was under the jurisdiction of the central government, but at that time, the central government did not effectively rule this area, which was very different from the western regions. After the Tang Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty ruled this area. At this time, the vast area from Sakhalin Island to Aral Sea was under the rule of Liao State, that is to say, since ancient times, the rule of this area was established in the Tang Dynasty, and Liao State finally established its own dominant position. Since then, this area has been under the rule of Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties until the Second Opium War.

It was occupied by Russia after the Second Opium War, by Japan after the Russo-Japanese War and recaptured by the Soviet Union before the Second World War. At this point, the four northern islands belong to Russia today.