Never mind recent Sea of Japan naval drills, Tokyo has other potential battles with China coming up 

Recently, the Japanese government has begun to pay more attention to the political and economic initiatives for rapprochement with Central Asia, with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) stating that “This is a geopolitically important region, rich in natural resources, it is of great importance for Japan.”

During the last meeting of the representatives of the LDP, ex-prime minister Taro Aso outlined to Fumio Kishida, the leader of the party and incumbent prime minister proposals for strengthening ties with the states of the Central Asian region. These included, in particular, a proposal to hold regular high-level meetings between Japan and the countries of Central Asia beginning from next year.

Following the meeting, Kishida said that he intends to give a corresponding instruction to Japan’s Foreign Ministry.

This means that Japan intends to create a counterbalance to the China-Central Asia format that is gradually gaining momentum. Against the background of the actual failure of the American C5+1 project, it appears that Tokyo is betting that their initiative will be more effective.

This initiative also comes as Chinese and Russian warships have been engaging in naval military exercises in the Sea of Japan this past few days.

The Central Asia Plus Japan/5+1 Dialogue (CAJD) relationship, which Japan first initiated with Central Asia in 2004, subsequently became an example for China and other nations, including Russia and the United States to develop their relations with the countries of the region in these frameworks. Within the framework of the CAJD, Japanese government officials held meetings at various levels.

The Japanese and Central Asian foreign ministers, last met on August 6, 2020, via videoconference due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Prior to this, meetings of high-ranking officials were held 14 times, the Tokyo Dialogue and various economic forums were held 8 times. This relationship system developed by Japan allowed it to take a balanced approach to countries and also prevented any exclusion of permanent neutrality, as Turkmenistan, was included in the network of relationships that Japan wanted to develop within the CEF.

On the other hand, Japan has intensified its economic relations, kept aloof from political issues in the region, was not seen as an entity to be feared despite its economic power, and succeeded in positioning itself as a friend of Central Asia.

In 2006, then-Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, in his speech at the 5+1 meeting in Tokyo, stated that a new Great Game had begun in the region, but that Central Asia was a corridor of peace and stability.

Aso explained that Japan’s interest in Central Asia is based on four pillars.

First of all, he stated that the World Order is like a chain, and that the prosperity of Japan is parallel to the strength of this chain. For this reason, he stated that the security problems in Central Asia, and in nearby geographic regions such as South Asia, must be overcome, and that Tokyo is acting precisely with these goals.

Secondly, these are underground riches, such as gold, uranium and energy resources, found both in Central Asia and in the Caspian region. Highlighting the wealth of countries in the region, including Azerbaijan, in terms of energy resources, Aso said they are interested in Central Asia being a source of supply for Japan.

Thirdly, the geographical proximity between Japan and Central Asia and the experience of the structuring model implemented in Japan after the Second World War showed a desire to share them with the countries of the region.

Moreover, Tokyo will be doubly happy if their initiative has an impact on the implementation of China’s Belt & Road Initiative as it too is vying for the same resources.

Despite existing disagreements, Beijing is trying to build a constructive dialogue with Japan and South Korea, another pro-American player in the region. China has called on both countries to cooperate to revitalise Asia and develop a sense of strategic autonomy from the West.

Wang Yi, head of the Office of the CPC Foreign Affairs Commission, was the last to voice this idea during a meeting with Japanese and South Korean officials at the Trilateral China-Japan-South Korea forum held on July 3 in Qingdao. Wang urged his country’s two neighbors to remember their “roots” and work together for the benefit of Asia and the world.

Japan’s conundrum is therefore does it belong to the Western, or Eastern Axis? How its political relations and trade integration towards Central Asia remain a key pointer into which way Japan will fall in a rapidly developing division between a United States led Western alliance and the rest of the world – with Asia somewhere in the middle.

Source: Silkroad Briefing

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