Indecisive Sanction

As his close friend gets violent, Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, becomes silent. The Government of Japan announced a series of sanctions against Russia that approved the result of the referendum in Crimea. Regardless the opposition from Western nations, Vladimir Putin immediately declared the annexation of the peninsula to Russia. Strangely enough, Abe believe himself still on the way to a solution in territorial dispute over Northern Territory and peace treaty. The diplomatically blind man does not see Russian imperialism.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fumio Kishida, on Tuesday explained reporters Japan’s standpoint on Ukraine crisis. “Russia’s approval of referendum in Crimea violates unification of Ukraine and integration of its sovereignty and territory. Our nation never ignore change of status quo backed by force,” told Kishida. On the other hand, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, stressed achievement in the bilateral relationship with Russia. “We will play a role for solving the problem based on the bilateral relationship with Russia constructed from the beginning of Abe administration,” said Suga.

The government announced sanctions against Russia, which included suspension of the talk for easier issuance of visa and reconsideration of embarking on negotiation over agreements for investment, use of the space and preventing dangerous military activities. Given the annexation of Crimea, further measures will be considered. However, Japan-Russia Investment Forum, prepared by public companies, was taken place in Tokyo on Wednesday. Japan’s sanction against Russia is something wishy-washy.

In August of 1945, Soviet Union invaded the islands located northeast of Hokkaido, unilaterally breaking non-aggression pact with Japan. Since then, Japan has been blaming Soviet and Russia as illegally occupying the islands. That is the basic cause of Northern Territory dispute, which can be paralleled with Crimea crisis. If Japan does not accuse Russia of annexing Crimea in saber-rattling manner, it weakens the standpoint of Japan requiring Russia to return the islands.

Nevertheless, Abe is reluctant to take strong position against Russia, because he thinks that personal relationship with Putin is one of the most working diplomacies in his administration. It will be not funny for Japan to take stricter measures against Russia than what Western countries are doing such as restricting diplomats from entering or freezing assets of Russian companies. But, Japan’s diplomatic cause is eroded by personal benefit of the prime minister.