East Asian Cold War

What is that significance in the century of Asia? The two leaders of China and Russia met in Moscow and delivered a joint statement for further cooperation in the issues of security, territorial unity and sovereignty. It was no wonder for them to have agreed on the notion that their bilateral relationship was very good, because they have common opportunity. That was obviously to confront against the United States and Japan. It sounded like new cold war in East Asia.

Xi Jinping chose Russia as the first country to visit as new Chinese President, which showed his high expectation to Russian cooperation. “The purpose of this visit is to build strategic partnership and to develop cooperation in all aspects,” told Xi in the meeting. Putin emphasized the significance of that bilateral relationship as “the most important element in world politics.”

In terms of security, those two leaders were looking at counter measures against US. Russia has been doubtful about US intention of deploying missile defense system in Eastern Europe to be deterrent against Russian missiles. China has also been sensitive about the deployment of US radar capability in Japan. The strategic motivation of taking care of pressure from US is common for them. They also reconfirmed their cooperation in the issues over Syria and North Korea.

In the area of sovereignty, they share common interest against Japan. While China holds a hot issue over Senkaku Islands, Russia has been keeping gridlocked negotiation over the Northern Islands of Japan. To put a pressure on Japan, the two leaders demonstrated their mutual support on each interpretation of history, and acknowledged the issues as “core interests” for both, endorsing Chinese standpoint to take the Senkaku issue as such. At the speech in a college in Moscow, Xi referred to compliance of the Charter of the United Nation, which is a basis of Russia’s appeal for its legitimacy over the Northern Islands.

However, the future of their cooperation has fuzzy elements over energy. Although they agreed on comprehensive cooperation over energy supply, including petroleum and natural gas, from Russia to China, it was still unclear in what price they exchange natural gas. While China is suspicious about stable supply of Russia, Russia is doubtful about the attitude of China to purchase shale gas, which may cause decline of natural gas price.

Counteracting that closer relationship of China and Russia, Japan is considering wedging it. The Defense Minister, Itsunori Onodera, told the Ambassador of Russia to Japan about concern of China’s transferring weapons from Russia to the third parties. In the summit meeting between Japan and Russia next month, Japan would be going to direct Russan intention to Japan rather than China. However, in the time of getting high the tension in the Korea Peninsula, it is not good phenomenon that East Asia cold war is spreading.