Japan's foreign policy in the context of military-political situation in North East Asia
The article considers the specific features of Japan's foreign policy course in the light of the present situation in North East Asia, which is undergoing substantial change due to the weakening of the role of the United States, the rising economic and political power of China, as well as the aggravation of a number of regional contradictions and conflicts. In these circumstances, Japanese leadership takes several steps in the military-political field, serving testament to the Japanese foreign policy course becoming increasingly active. From Japan's point of view, the main threats to its security are, first and foremost, “the China factor” and “the threat from the DPRK”. The former is caused, to a large extent, by the exacerbating Japan-China territorial dispute around the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, which forces Japan both to upgrade its military might and to expend efforts in order to strengthen its cooperation with the United States and, potentially, other regional nations. However, the territorial dispute is but a manifestation of deeper contradictions, in this way or another affecting the entire spectrum of Japan-China relations, even though this does not prevent Japan from seeking ways to develop friendly relations with the PRC. Meanwhile, the territorial issue and the problems of historical past mar not only Japan-China, but only Japan-South Korea relations. Japan also takes measures to defend itself from “the threat from the DPRK”, which is expressed, largely, in its strict policy regarding the anti-DPRK sanctions and the resolution of the Korean missile and nuclear issues, its efforts to resolve the problem of abducted Japanese citizens, and also, in the field of military policy, in the development of a national missile defense system. At the same time, Japan's relations with Russia in the military-political field develop largely in a good-neighborly fashion. While certain problematic issues remain, officially, Japan does not see Russia as a threat and advocates the maintenance of broad contacts between Moscow and Tokyo in this field.