JAPAN'S FOREIGN POLICY IN CENTRAL ASIA: KEY STAGES AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS
Keywords:
international partnership, investments, resource diplomacy, strategic partnership, global trendsAbstract
The paper analyzes the main stages of the formation and development of the Japanese foreign policy vector in Central Asia. Japan was the first country to approach Central Asia as a single region requiring joint problem solving. However, despite this, Tokyo's diplomatic activity in the region was not as high as that of other countries. This can be explained be several factors: geographical remoteness, Japan’s other foreign policy priorities, and significant investment and political risks in Central Asia. Japan's foreign policy in Central Asia has evolved from insignificant interest to active cooperation in key areas such as economics, security, and humanitarian cooperation. The dynamic development of the Central Asian direction in Japan's foreign policy was demonstrated by the six-party format "Central Asia plus Japan" initiated in August 2004. The article analyzes the goals, principles, and mechanisms of this format, its role in strengthening political dialogue, economic cooperation, and regional stability. It was also found that the countries of Central Asia rich in mineral resources and possessing significant human potential, such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, are of the greatest interest to Japanese business. Features of Japan's economic cooperation with these countries, including investment projects, development of infrastructure and the energy sector, are analyzed. Attention is paid to the difference in trade relations between Japan and Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan, having no access to the sea, exports natural gas only through pipelines. However, significant reserves of uranium and rare metals attract Japanese investment. Uzbekistan also supplies agricultural products to Japan, including cotton, and Japan exports machinery, equipment, electronics and medical equipment. In general, Japanese diplomacy has been able to successfully establish regular political dialogue with the countries of Central Asia and gain a positive reputation in the region. Japan has established itself as a country that effectively promotes "soft power" in Central Asia, which is manifested through the implementation of projects in the fields of education, science, ecology, and agricultural development.
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