MOSCOW, June 21 New Japanese sanctions against Russia, which, however, did not affect energy companies, will not worsen relations between Moscow and Tokyo, since there is nowhere for them to worsen, and it is absolutely unimportant whether there will be new sanctions or not, says Dmitry Streltsov, a leading researcher at the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
«I think that everything terrible is behind us. This reason is not a trigger for a new round of escalation. This round has already occurred, and whether there will be new sanctions or not, it doesn’t matter. The deterioration of our relations is already at such a stage that it can worsen further they have nowhere to go,” the expert said, assessing the current state of affairs in bilateral relations between Moscow and Tokyo.
“These are all symbolic sanctions, gradually the number of individuals and enterprises will increase, but the main basis in economic relations is energy resources: gas supplies from Sakhalin, which do not stop, and here Tokyo will not change its position. As for the country’s energy security, Unlike European countries, Japan will continue this policy,» he said.
Streltsov added that Moscow’s response could be targeted specific measures against specific individuals or enterprises not related to the fuel and energy complex, noting that Russia is not interested in losing an energy buyer in the Far East.
“I do not deny that this is an element of a political signal of dissatisfaction on the part of Tokyo with the results of the visit (of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the DPRK — ed.) and the signing of this agreement (on a strategic partnership between Russia and the DPRK — ed.). Of course, Tokyo perceives this as an unfriendly step,” Streltsov noted, answering the question whether Japan’s new package of sanctions could be related to Putin’s visit to Pyongyang.
Earlier it became known that Japan imposed sanctions against 41 Russian companies, and 11 individuals were also included in the list.
Russia and North Korea, following negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, with the participation of delegations from the two countries, concluded a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, an agreement on cooperation in the field of healthcare, medical education and science, as well as an agreement on the construction of a road bridge across the Tumannaya River on the border of the two countries. As stated in the Russian Federation, the document complies with all norms of international law and is not directed against third countries.
Earlier, Putin, at a press approach following his visit to the DPRK and Vietnam, said that the agreement with the DPRK was “not new” and was concluded due to the fact that the old one, from 1961, had approximately the same content. Russia hasn’t changed anything, it’s just perceived more “sharply” now.