Only Diplomacy Working

It is the only diplomacy of Japan that looked to be working now. Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, agreed with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on inviting Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov to Japan this fall. It was the second meeting within last two months, marking a sense of willingness to deal with bilateral issues. It is fair to say that Japan-Russia relationship is the brightest hope of Abe diplomacy with neighbor nations.

Abe and Putin agreed on resuming talks over the Northern Territory, or Kuril Islands in Russian recognition, in the meeting in Moscow in April. This time, they reconfirmed that it was important to have political talks in a timely and frequent manner. To talk about the Northern Territory, they agreed to have meetings in vice-minister level for looking for a solution acceptable for both nations.

The meeting went on in a friendly manner. “We could make a new start of Japan-Russia relationship in Moscow. I hope to step it up for further progress,” told Abe. “Russia-Japan relationship is extremely important. I am pleased with having another opportunity to talk with,” Putin replied. They acknowledged the necessity of requiring North Korea to abandon its nuclear program through the cooperation among related countries. They also welcomed the private deal over joint development of an oil field in the seabed offshore of the State of Magadan.

But, those conversations did not mean a great progress in the negotiation over the peace treaty between those nations. Although they shared the recognition of necessity for accelerating the negotiation, they talked nothing about the substance of how to approach to a goal.

The standpoints of both leaders are too far to solve the problem. Putin, having trouble inside Russia about his handlings of politics, has no leverage to compromise on the territorial issue with Japan. Abe cannot deal with this issue without any compromise from Russia to appeal to Japanese public of his diplomatic gain. They are just standing face to face in the entrance of the negotiation.

For Abe, however, it was useful to have shown that he could meet a leader of one of the major powers in the world. Losing an opportunity of meeting US President, Barack Obama, in Northern Ireland, he appealed the achievement in the meeting with Putin for a compensation for his bitter relationships with China, South Korea, or else. In other words, it was Abe’s achievement to have a leaders’ talk without giving his right wing agenda up, which meant nothing in terms of national interest of Japan.