Exploring the current situation and future prospects of the cooperation between the Japanese and Russian ports across the Sea of Japan: Viewed from the Russian Perspective

Journal of the Institute for Asian Studies and Regional Collaboration. 2017. Vol. 4. P. 19–58.

Турбин А. Д., Takemura Y.

Geographic proximity, common economic interests and political strife towards normalization of the relations between the Russian Federation and Japan are supposed to result in a positive dynamics of economic exchanges between the two nations including the increase in the cargo volumes shipped through the Japanese and Russian ports across the Sea of Japan. However, the results are moderate throughout the recent years as we see more of a fading maintenance of the old cooperation rather than rapid growth. In mass media and expert analysis, this is mainly explained by the declined purchase power of Russian business due to the fall of the Russian currency accompanied by the international and Japanese sanctions against Russia. But is that the only reason? What else influences the volumes of Russian-Japanese trade in East Asia? This article observes current Russian-Japanese trade and cooperation in the sphere of sea transportation and makes an attempt to clarify the existing problems and future prospects in collaboration between the Japanese and Russian ports across the Sea of Japan..

Ключевые слова: Russian Far East, Russo-Japanese relations