Abe Maintains Do-Nothing Policy on Covid Second Wave
A roundup of the most significant news stories from Japan reported in the last half of July 2020.
Tag Archives: Northern Sea Route
Economic and Environmental Risks in Abe’s Energy Investments in Russia
In 2019, Japan’s involvement in the Russian energy sector increased significantly, most notably with the purchase by a Japanese consortium of a 10% stake in Russia’s Arctic LNG-2 project. The Abe administration evidently hopes that these new investments will bring benefits, both in terms of energy economics, and as a means of furthering Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ambition to settle Japan’s territorial dispute with Russia. In both respects, the Japanese leadership risks disappointment.
The Abe Climate COP Out
A roundup of the most significant news stories from Japan reported in the first half of December 2019.
Osaka G20 Summit Produces Few Results
A roundup of the most significant news stories from Japan reported in the second half of June 2019.
Conservative Landslide in Unified Local Elections
A roundup of the most significant news stories from Japan reported on April 12, 2019.
Japan and the Northern Sea Route
Global warming is progressively creating a new reality that ships from East Asia, including Japan, might soon be regularly able to reach Europe more quickly via the shipping route that runs along Russia’s Arctic coast, from the Bering Strait in the east to the Kara Sea in the west, rather than using the conventional route via the Suez Canal.
Japan and Canada Move Forward on Security
Canada is one of those countries whose relations with Japan seldom prompt front page news. However, in addition to sharing some key interests, certain developments may help the relationship grow tighter over the coming years. These include energy, a field where Ottawa is a major player and Tokyo is in the midst of a major overhaul. The two countries are also taking steps in security and defense cooperation.
Gazprom Tanker Breaks Through to the Pacific
The arrival of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker through the Arctic Ocean and into the Pacific Ocean offers hope and the chance to diversify away from the sea lanes Tokyo currently relies upon for the bulk of its energy imports.
The Cold Road to Europe
The northern sea route, linking East Asia with Europe through waters traditionally closed by ice to commercial navigation, are increasingly accessible during the Arctic summer due to global warming.
