Podcast host Alex Gabuev; Darshana Baruah, an associate fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Michito Tsuruoka, an associate professor at Keio University in Tokyo, examine relations in and around the Indo-Pacific.
James Schoff, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Asia Program, explains the U.S. position on the close relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, and how Washington views economic cooperation between the two neighbors.
Ahead of the first virtual summit of the Quad countries (the United States, Japan, Australia, and India), Ashley J. Tellis, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, looked at the relationship between Russia and India, the role of the Quad, and why Delhi is keen to include Moscow in Indo-Pacific affairs.
How does Japan view the evolution of U.S.-China relations? Is this an opportunity to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance? How likely are changes in China's behavior toward its neighbors, including Japan, India, and Australia? These questions and much more will be on the agenda in a discussion featuring Akio Takahara and Alexander Gabuev.
We are unlikely to see a political or economic breakthrough in Russo-Japanese relations. Japan won’t be trying to repeat Abe’s efforts to that end in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, bilateral relations could well grow naturally under minimally favorable conditions.
The emergence of a Pax Sinica including Russia could draw new dividing lines over Eurasia.
As the destabilization of the Indo-Pacific region continues and disagreements between key players escalate, the Russo-Japanese security dialogue may acquire growing significance.
Any discussion of Russia’s Asia policy inevitably focuses on China, but what about Japan?
The Yoshihide Suga administration should continue its policy of engagement with Russia, while keeping the conclusion of a peace treaty and resolution of the territorial issue as a future task.
Since the relationship between Japan and China will inevitably remain competitive and confrontational in the long term, the strategic importance of progress in Japan’s relationship with Russia will grow.
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