Tokyo hosted Putin's culture czar while he lobbied for energy deals and schmoozed pro-Kremlin lawmakers - all on the same day Moscow launched 100+ drones at Ukraine
A useful piece—worth adding the logic Tokyo may be following. Japan likely has its own reason not to cut ties with Moscow entirely: the deeper Russia sinks into Beijing's orbit, the worse for Tokyo, which would rather Moscow keep some independent room to maneuver than become China's junior partner on Japan's doorstep. A thin channel—cultural, energy, consular—is one way to avoid pushing Russia fully into China's arms. The reported visit of Akie Abe, Shinzo Abe's widow, to Moscow last year fits that pattern: personal diplomacy that keeps a line open.
All good points. Thank you for sharing. Speaking of China Russia, expect Beijing to eventually makes moves on disputed territories and grab pieces of the Russian Far East as the Kremlin becomes weaker and has much of its military concentrated on the Ukrainian frontline
A useful piece—worth adding the logic Tokyo may be following. Japan likely has its own reason not to cut ties with Moscow entirely: the deeper Russia sinks into Beijing's orbit, the worse for Tokyo, which would rather Moscow keep some independent room to maneuver than become China's junior partner on Japan's doorstep. A thin channel—cultural, energy, consular—is one way to avoid pushing Russia fully into China's arms. The reported visit of Akie Abe, Shinzo Abe's widow, to Moscow last year fits that pattern: personal diplomacy that keeps a line open.
All good points. Thank you for sharing. Speaking of China Russia, expect Beijing to eventually makes moves on disputed territories and grab pieces of the Russian Far East as the Kremlin becomes weaker and has much of its military concentrated on the Ukrainian frontline