Preview

MGIMO Review of International Relations

Advanced search

Russian-Japanese Relations: Long-Term Development Factors

https://doi.org/10.24833/2071-8160-2020-3-72-68-85

Abstract

The article analyzes long-term external and internal factors determining the course of development of Russian-Japanese relations in 2019-2020. On the one hand, the anti-Russian component in Tokyo's foreign policy is shaped by its membership in the Security Treaty with the United States and its solidarity with the sanctions policy of the Group of Seven towards Russia. On the other hand, Japan and Russia are both interested interest in political cooperation in creating multilateral dialog mechanisms of international security in East Asia, resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, and easing tensions around territorial disputes in the East China and South China seas. Among the economic factors, the author focuses on the significant place of Russia in the context of Japan's task of diversifying sources of external energy supplies, as well as on Russia's desire to avoid unilateral dependence on the Chinese market while reorienting the system of foreign economic relations from the West to the East. Personal diplomacy of political leaders plays a significant role in relations between Russia and Japan, and, above all, close personal relationships and frequent meetings between Prime Minister Abe and President Putin, which make it possible to partially compensate the unfavorable image of the partner country in the public opinion of both Russia and Japan. Against the background of a deadlock in the Peace Treaty talks which emerged in 2019, the search for a way out of the diplomatic impasse is on the agenda. In the author's opinion, it would be appropriate at the first stage to proceed to the conclusion of a basic agreement on the basis bilateral relations, which would be "untied" from the Peace Treaty. In addition, Russia could stop criticizing Japan for its security policy and show greater understanding of the Japanese initiative in the field of quality infrastructure. In turn, Japan could take a number of strategic decisions on cooperation with Russia and announce them in the Prime Minister's keynote speech. In addition, Tokyo could stop positioning the issue of the peace Treaty as the main issue in relations with Russia, which would allow our countries to "untie" bilateral relations from the problem of border demarcation and focus on their positive agenda.

About the Author

D. V. Streltsov
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (university)
Russian Federation

Dmitry V. Streltsov – Doctor of History, Head of the Department of Oriental Studies

Russia, 119454, Moscow, prospekt Vernadskogo 76



References

1. Brown J. 2018. Japan’s security cooperation with Russia: neutralizing the threat of a China– Russia united front. International Affairs. 94(4). P. 861–882. DOI: 10.1093/ia/iiy031.

2. Izumikawa Y. 2016. Japan’s Approach to Russia under Shinzo Abe: A Strategic Perspective. Japan-Russia Relations: Implications for the U.S.-Japan Alliance. Ed. by Gilbert Rozman. Washington: Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA. P. 61 – 70.

3. Lindgren W. 2018. New Dynamics in Japan – Russia Energy Relations 2011–2017. Journal of Eurasian Studies. 9(2). P.152-162. DOI: 10.1016/j.euras.2018.06.002

4. Chugrov S.V. 2016. Obraz Rossii v Yaponii i obraz Yaponii v Rossii: Rabochaya tetrad' 33 [The Image of Russia in Japan and the Image of Japan in Russia: Working Paper 33]. Moscow: NPMP RIAC. 64 p. (In Russian)

5. Kazakov O. 2019. K voprosu ob aktivizacii rossijsko-japonskogo dialoga po territorial'noj probleme [On the Enhancing of Russian-Japanese Dialogue on Territorial Issue]. Problemy Dalnego Vostoka. 1. P. 33-45. DOI: 10.31857/S013128120003920-3 (In Russian)

6. Nelidov V.V. 2019. Rossijsko-yaponskie dvustoronnie otnosheniya: predely sblizheniya [Russian-Japanese Bilateral Relations: Limits of Rapprochement]. Vostochnaya Aziya: fakty i analitika [East Asia: Facts and Analytics]. 2. P. 65–82. (In Russian). DOI: 10.24411/2686-7702- 2019-10012 (In Russian).

7. Panov A.N. 2019. Sovetsko-yaponskaya Sovmestnaya deklaratsiya 1956 goda: slozhnyy put’ k podpisaniyu, nelëgkaya sud’ba posle ratifikatsii [The Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956: a Difficult Path to Signing, a Hard Destiny after the Ratification]. Yaponskiye issledovaniya [Japanese Studies in Russia]. 2. P. 63–94. DOI: 10.24411/2500-2872-2019-10012 (In Russian).

8. Sevast'yanov S. V., Lukin A. L., Shishmakov S.O. 2018. Diplomatiya Putina i Abe: perspektivy politicheskogo uregulirovaniya rossiisko-yaponskikh otnoshenii [Diplomacy of Putin and Abe: prospects for political settlement of the Russian – Japanese relations]. Oriental Institute Journal. 4. P. 54–67. DOI: dx.doi.org/10.24866/2542-1611/2018-4/54-67 (In Russian).

9. Timonina I.L. 2016. Rossija – Japonija: real'nyj potencial jekonomicheskogo vzaimodejstvija [Russia – Japan: Real Potential of Economic Cooperation]. Yaponskiye issledovaniya [Japanese Studies in Russia]. 1. P. 20-31. (In Russian).


Review

For citations:


Streltsov D.V. Russian-Japanese Relations: Long-Term Development Factors. MGIMO Review of International Relations. 2020;13(3):68-85. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24833/2071-8160-2020-3-72-68-85

Views: 1910


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2071-8160 (Print)
ISSN 2541-9099 (Online)