Russia’s failure in Asia

Abstract

Russia wants to be seen as a major Asian power and understands that it needs foreign investment on a large-scale to accomplish this aim. However, few Asian states really see it in this light and this is mainly due to failure by Moscow to develop the Russian Far East or to make itself truly fully relevant to its partners' or potential partners' concerns. Particularly with regard to South Korea and Japan Russia has failed not only to make the Russian Far East an attractive investment proposition, it has also failed to respond to their critical political interests in making Russia a safe haven for foreign investment or for pulling much weight in the six-party talks on North Korean proliferation. Neither has it responded to Japanese business' desire for a stable investment climate or to Japan on the so called Northern Territories issue. As a result Russia has failed to optimize the potential benefits that could accrue to it from ties with those states. As a result it really has only one partner in Asia and that is China. And under the circumstances this partnership entails growing dependence upon China, not an equal partnership nor an independent and competitive status as a great Asian power.