Russia’s East Asia Policy: New Opportunities and Challenges*

Abstract

Since the demise of the Soviet Union, Russia’s foreign policy has evolved from a Westernoriented one to a multi-dimensional one, with substantial focus on East Asia. Russia’s East Asian policy is stimulated by its bid for great power status in the region. Russian-Chinese relations have been the axis of Russia’s East Asian foreign policy, though the relations have not been without their challenges. Overdependence on China threatens Russia’s independent policy in the region and encourages Russia to search for ways to diversify its ties. The rise of China and the US counter-offensive have resulted in a changing strategic environment in East Asia. A need for balancing between the US and China has brought about ASEAN countries’ desire to welcome Russia as a “balancer” in the region. It corresponds with Russia’s course on intensifying cooperation with East Asian countries in order to facilitate the development of Siberia and the Russian Far East

Keywords

• Russia, East Asia, Foreign Policy, Security.

References

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