Valdai Club

Tokyo’s desire for closer contact with Moscow is motivated by the apprehension that China will monopolize Russia’s natural resources in Siberia and the Far East and an intention to “drag” Russia away from China in the area of military cooperation, because China’s growing military might and vigorous expansion in the seas are seen by Tokyo as the biggest security threat to Japan. The importance of Russia and Japan to each other as economic partners is quite insignificant.

Apart from the interest in resolving the territorial dispute, China and North Korea are also important factors pushing Japan into Russia’s arms.

The biggest problem in Russian-Japanese relations is Tokyo’s claim to the southern Kuril Islands – Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai.