Japan's tie with Russia may prompt multipolarity of East Asia

Astroboy · 24 Nov 2008

Japan, Russia vow 'concrete' steps to end island row

The leaders of Japan and Russia pledged Saturday to take concrete steps to resolve a territorial dispute, saying they wanted normal ties after a row that has endured for decades.

Russia and Japan have never signed a peace treaty to formally end World War II due to Tokyo's claims over four islands which Soviet troops seized in 1945 off Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.

While not revealing specifics, a Japanese government official said the two leaders ordered government officials "to begin concrete work." "President Medvedev said he has no intention to leave the resolution of the issue to the next generation," the official said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081123/wl_asia_afp/apecsummitrussiajapan

1. Russia was bashed by the West over Georgia row.
2. Ex-colleagues of Soviet bloc mostly turned to anti-Russia.
3. US missile defense plan in Europe has been adding pressure on Russian defense.
4. Superficially Russia maintains friendship with China, but Russia has increasingly been frustrated with China as Far Eastern region of Russia has been being more "China" as Chinese are migrating to Siberia.
5. Plus Russians realise that their economic strength was just an illusion as it was not backed up with real economy but just petroleum/natural gas.

So it is very natural for Russia to seek better tie with Japan.
Tie with Russia must be good for Japan to spread risk in the region as US power will gradually be fading.

Do you think any significant progress about diplomatic tie between Japan and Russia will occur in a shorter period ?

Golgo 13 · 24 Nov 2008

Interesting to hear. I believe in the last year or two, Russia has offered Japan 2 out of 4(?) islands back but Japan refused the offer stating they wanted all the islands.

Astroboy · 27 Nov 2008

Vladmir Putin's website returns occupied islands to Japan
In an embarrassing error for Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin, a group of disputed islands off northern Japan have been identified as Japanese territory on his new website.
Vladmir Putin's website returns occupied islands to Japan

Yes, Putin, you are right. "Japan" is only hope for Russian future.
History clearly indicates that "Friendship with Japan" brings benefits to the country.

JerseyBoy · 28 Nov 2008

I am not holding my breath. It is very unlikely Russia will acquiesce to Japan by giving back those islands. The Russian public does not want to see another part of the Russian territories lost, as that would be another national humiliation after the collapse of USSR and loss of its former satellite states.

I also do not see any big benefits Russia may get from having an alliance with Japan. Japan does not have much influence on the world stage anyway.

Astroboy · 2 Dec 2008

JerseyBoy said:
I also do not see any big benefits Russia may get from having an alliance with Japan. Japan does not have much influence on the world stage anyway.

Only thing for sure is .... that Russia needs Japanese investment and technologies for development of Seberia. With tieing Japan, Russia will have more options, so does Japan.

Meanwhile, Nobody in Japan is interested in political influence on the world stage as it only results in waste of money and human lives.

bakaKanadajin · 2 Dec 2008

Astroboy said:
Meanwhile, Nobody in Japan is interested in political influence on the world stage as it only results in waste of money and human lives.

Any excellent point. People forget that Japan is not a world power by choice and by nature, they like to not get involved in BS that will bring harm to their way of life and cause loss of life. The fact that they are considering branching out and diversifying their portofolio in a sense, shows that they are operating in a nationally-interested way and just because they aren't invading anyone it doesn't mean progress isn't being made.

That being said, Japan is conservative and slow, it'd be interesting to see how much they're willing to give up in exchange for increased relations and access to Russia.

Astroboy · 2 Dec 2008

That being said, Japan is conservative and slow, it'd be interesting to see how much they're willing to give up in exchange for increased relations and access to Russia.

Interesting point of view.

I must point out .... history clearly indicates that Japan often changes completely in one day in the unseeable/unpredictable forms from foreigners.
It's not a form of one way or the other, but the Japanese way, I think.

By the way, Go USA - The World Police

Taiko666 · 2 Dec 2008

Astroboy said:
History clearly indicates that "Friendship with Japan" brings benefits to the country.

I didn't realise that Japan has ever had any long-term friends. Who do you mean?

Astroboy · 2 Dec 2008

Taiko666 said:
I didn't realise that Japan has ever had any long-term friends. Who do you mean?

Yeah... You are right.

Japanese YEN is still "Mr Lonely", While UK Stg Pound is about being swallowed by Euro, meaning "Controlled by Frankfurt".

Official: England May Switch to the Euro
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,459391,00.html

JerseyBoy · 2 Dec 2008

Astroboy said:
Yeah... You are right.
Japanese YEN is still "Mr Lonely", While UK Stg Pound is about being swallowed by Euro, meaning "Controlled by Frankfurt".
Official: England May Switch to the Euro
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,459391,00.html

I want to point out the British public is against giving up the pound for the euro. The news is based on some MPs' opinion. I doubt Gordon Brown will push that issue when the general election is on the horizon in the near future (he is very unpopular like JP's prime minister).

JerseyBoy · 3 Dec 2008

Astroboy said:
Only thing for sure is .... that Russia needs Japanese investment and technologies for development of Seberia. With tieing Japan, Russia will have more options, so does Japan.

I think Russia does not consider Japanese technology a must-have (as there are many other alternative sources for technology). Developing the vast territory (such as Siberia) is not what Japan is good at. There are many Western companies who have decades of experience in those large scale projects.

Adulado · 4 Dec 2008

I found a nice article:

www(dot)chosunonline(dot)com/article/20081128000049

I think it's because of the concern of qinese immigration to Siberia also.

Astroboy · 6 Dec 2008

JerseyBoy said:
I think Russia does not consider Japanese technology a must-have (as there are many other alternative sources for technology). Developing the vast territory (such as Siberia) is not what Japan is good at. There are many Western companies who have decades of experience in those large scale projects.

As far as I know, many Western companies ran large-scale projects in Siberia .... but those projects were focused on natural-resources.

I think they want more development for manufacturing, e.g. Официальный сайт Toyota: цены на автомобили Toyota, only which can stabilize their economic growth and prosperity.

Matthew Ota · 8 Dec 2008

When I was in Japan in Hesei 1, the official NHK line was that Japan was a"Westernized Democracy". I found that definition to be rather odd, as I viewed Japan at the time as unique in the world unto itself.

hogdriver · 8 Dec 2008

JerseyBoy said:
I am not holding my breath. It is very unlikely Russia will acquiesce to Japan by giving back those islands. The Russian public does not want to see another part of the Russian territories lost, as that would be another national humiliation after the collapse of USSR and loss of its former satellite states.

I also do not see any big benefits Russia may get from having an alliance with Japan. Japan does not have much influence on the world stage anyway.

LOL!

Japan already rules the world! They own all the top national puppets! Please stop tryin to blow smoke, before someone starts blowin bullets!

You are dishonoring yourself and your nation.

You guys are too smart to resort to dishonesty.

You are supposed to fool and count on your target to assume what you desire.

Would you like to trade homes for awhile...you would do well here.

HD

JerseyBoy · 8 Dec 2008

Matthew Ota said:
When I was in Japan in Hesei 1, the official NHK line was that Japan was a"Westernized Democracy". I found that definition to be rather odd, as I viewed Japan at the time as unique in the world unto itself.

I think that's because Japan adopted the US-drafted constitution after the WW2. If you see one party is ruling the Diet for many decades (except for a short period of interruption), you would be there is something fishy going on. Well, Japan is a land of fish; so, it may be normal to be fishy.

Japan's tie with Russia may prompt multipolarity of East Asia

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