May 3, 2017

"Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Russia in late April. It was a return visit to Putin's Japan trip last December. But why is Japan seeking to improve its ties with Russia while there are no signs of normalization in Russia-EU or Russia-US relations?

Japan is suffering from a diplomatic deficit. It holds a hostile policy toward North Korea and there are some tensions with South Korea. The disputes over history and territorial sovereignty have deteriorated its relations with China.

China has developed a close and strong strategic relationship with Russia and the advancement of the Belt and Road initiative is in full swing, both of which have made Japan uneasy as it regards China as its main competitor."

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http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1045193.shtml