Japan and the Russian Federation need to overcome the territorial dispute
Japan and the Russian Federation need to overcome the territorial dispute
Pierre Leblanc and Lee Jay Walker
Modern Tokyo Times
The Russian Federation and Japan need to move on and develop stronger economic, political, military, and cultural ties. Also, both nations need to implement reforms in the field of energy whereby the Russian Federation and Japan work closely together in the Russian Far East. Therefore, the impasse and doubts over the territorial issue needs to be resolved or greater joint initiatives should take place which benefit both sides.
The Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihiko Noda, needs to openly start a process with President Dmitry Medvedev of the Russian Federation, whereby movement or accommodation can be met on the territorial issue. Alternatively, the Russian Federation should help Japan to increases its economic ties in Central Asia and leaders in Moscow should implement a non-interference policy with regards to delicate issues involving China and Japan. This notably applies to the territorial dispute between both nations and the Russian Federation should also seek to have greater contact with the military of Japan in the field of joint maneuvers.
It is also vital that Japan promises safeguards towards the Russian Federation and this applies to putting “military breaks” on America when it applies to activity in northern Japan. In this sense, it is essential that the political hierarchy in Tokyo shows a more independent spirit whereby the self-interests of Japan override the containment policies of America towards the Russian Federation and China.
This does not imply that Japan and America shouldn’t continue with their “internal special relationship” but external issues in Washington shouldn’t be tolerated. After all, in the field of economics it is abundantly clear that China is a major source of revenue for Japanese companies. Meanwhile the Russian Federation and Central Asia could play a pivotal role in the area of energy because Japan is over reliant on resources from the Middle East.
Also, the Fukushima nuclear crisis highlighted the fact that the Russian Federation was open to improving developments in the energy sector in order to help Japan during this difficult period. The Fukushima crisis is creating a huge burden on the economy of Japan therefore “a new energy policy” is needed in order to reduce the burgeoning costs of new energy supplies. Currently, nearly all nuclear facilities are in shut-down mode because of various factors and this is impacting on the imbalance in the trade deficit.
Stephen Blank, in his article called Russia Launches New Initiative Toward Japan which was published in The Jamestown Foundation; comments that “Lavrov (Foreign Minister) also outlined the priorities of his trip, as Russia is the APEC chairman and its host for 2012. These priorities center on obtaining foreign trade and investment to help move Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East further into an innovation and development track. Consequently, Moscow has to persuade its Asian partners that its economy and the formation of a single economic area with Kazakhstan and Belarus justify that Asian trade and investment (Izvestiya, January 27). In this context the initiative toward Japan largely appears to be a new effort to persuade Tokyo, which is deemed hungry for opportunities to invest in Russia, especially due to its supposedly weakened condition after the calamities of 2011 – without making any progress on the disputed issue of the Kuril Islands.”
In this article by Stephen Blank you certainly feel an anti-Russian Federation bias or that the author is pinning much of the blame on Moscow. However, it is clear that politicians in the Russian Federation and business leaders in both nations hope that a “real thaw” will take place. After all, the current status quo isn’t helping either nation and it is vital that both sides shift from their “100% certainty approach” in order to reach genuine accommodation.
In 2011 it was abundantly clear that the Russian Federation increased its military power in the Kurils/Northern Territories. However, the reason behind this was because of the “shadow of America” which is also preventing real trust to take place between both nations.
Pavel Felgenhauer, a highly acclaimed journalist and analyst, stated in The Jamestown Foundation, that “Japan is not a first-class priority in Russian politics or strategic planning. The strategic build up in the Kuriles and of the Pacific Fleet capabilities may not be aimed at Japan or China per se, but the US – Russia’s true present number one strategic concern.”
Political leaders in Japan should focus on the vast resources of the Russian Federation when it comes to oil, gas, and other vital resources. After all, if genuine developments took place between both nations then this would boost the security of Japan. Not only this, it would also mean that the Russian Federation would have to understand the position of Japan in Northeast Asia when it comes to other territorial disputes, the Korean Peninsula, China, and other important areas.
In two past articles by Modern Tokyo Times related to this issue it was stated that “The ownership of the disputed region doesn’t technically belong to either Japan or the Russian Federation and claims based on history don’t wash…. from an historical point of view the region was independent and while trade went on in many directions, it is clear that Japan and the Russian Federation didn’t control this region. This fact, therefore, should provide some hope for a minor territorial breakthrough which enables both nations to resolve the issue.”
“It is most unlikely that Sakhalin will ever be on the table because of geopolitical factors and natural resources. However, minor islets could be “on the table” and this may enable this issue to be put to bed but certain conditions need to be met.”
Therefore, it is time for Japan and the Russian Federation to come to a set of agreements based on mutual trust because a positive outcome would be a win-win situation for both nations. Given this, “a gentle climb-down” by both Japan and the Russian Federation is needed.
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