Ukraine prompts Russia to shift strategy eastward with Kuriles buildup

Source:Global Times Published: 2014-4-21 20:33:01

Russia plans to build more than 150 military facilities before 2016 on the islands of Iturup and Kunashir that are part of a disputed island chain known as the Southern Kuriles in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan.

Besides various military facilities, residential camps, sports and entertainment infrastructure will also be built up by a Russian state-run construction firm, as well as armored vehicles being stationed.

A similar overhaul is also designed for military equipment on Sakhalin Island, Russia's biggest island near the Southern Kuriles, by 2020.

The Kremlin's decision to revamp its dilapidated Pacific Fleet in the Southern Kuriles indicates that Russia is resolute about asserting its status as a great Asian power.

As a country with a vast territory stretching from Europe to Asia, Russia needs to strike a balance between the two continents. It is normal for Moscow to attach importance to its interests in the Asia-Pacific region by building facilities in the Far East, which calls for a proper amount of military strength to provide support.

The West is imposing harsh sanctions and pressing Russia's strategic space due to its move on Crimea, further prompting it to restore its strategic pillar in the East.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is one step closer to his Eurasian dream with the military overhaul on the geopolitically significant four islands located in North Pacific.

The Putin administration also aims at creating a bargaining chip when trading barbs with Japan over the disputed territories.

Now that its close neighbor Japan is obsessed with an extreme right-wing path by sparing no effort to expand its military buildup and revise the pacifist constitution, Moscow announced this decision to serve as a warning to the Abe administration.

As US President Barack Obama is kicking off his visit to Japan, Russia must maintain and improve its military presence over the Pacific Ocean to counterbalance the increasingly powerful US-Japan alliance in the region.

Contention over interests in the Arctic is another highly possible motive for the Kremlin's plan to establish military compounds and civil infrastructure on the Southern Kuriles.

Putin ordered the Northern Fleet-Unified Strategic Command last year to develop military infrastructure in an aim to boost its presence and protect its interests in the Arctic.

Located in the northernmost end of the first island chain around East Asia, the Southern Kuriles serve as a critical artery to approach the Arctic territories, which are home to abundant untapped oil and gas reserves as well as fishing resources.

As the vast area began to thaw rapidly, it has become a hotly contested spot among Russia, the US and Canada, as well as Northern Europe. The military and civil infrastructure deployment will greatly promote Moscow's bid to further explore and develop natural resources in the Arctic after making claims to some shelf areas.

Moscow's decision has aroused condemnation and opposition from Japan. But such protest lacks full consideration and foresight.

As neighbors, Tokyo and Moscow must keep in touch with each other in one way or another. As a relatively small country in dire need of energy and resources, Japan cannot survive without Russia's supply.

Japan has, actually, been walking a tightrope between its US ally and Russia for decades. Due to different interest appeals from the West, Tokyo will likely be trapped in this status for a long time in the future.

Japan lacks leeway to bargain with Moscow. Therefore Abe's cabinet may not resort to substantial measures against the Kremlin.

Russia's move on the Southern Kuriles will wield little direct influence upon the architecture of Northeast Asia. But through this move, Russia is making it clear that it is seeking a more important role in the region by increasing involvement in the bitter Sino-Japanese relationship, the North Korean nuclear issue, and the flawed US-Japan alliance. And Northeast Asia will remain an arena of competition among the US and its allies, China and Russia.

The article was compiled by Global Times reporter Wang Xiaonan, based on an interview with Wang Xiangsui, director of the Center for Strategic Studies, Beihang University. wangxiaonan@globaltimes.com.cn

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