CONTEMPORARY EURASIA IX ( 1 )
“ Central Asia and the Caucasus Division ” was established in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs . 35
Later , on November 30 , 2006 Foreign Minister of Japan - Taro Aso in his speech titled as “ Arc of Freedom and Prosperity : Japan ’ s Expanding Diplomatic Horizons ” noted the importance of developing the relationships between two sides technically and financially to develop the principles of democracy and market economy . 36
Since the 2015 visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to five states of this region 37 , Japan ’ s policy towards Central Asia region has been shifted to be more goal-oriented and on the practical outputs of such cooperation has been prioritized over the value-based approach . Japanese leadership may cause to this shift , thus , the process of democratization in Central Asia appeared to be a long-term objective , and in the meantime , the economic opportunities of cooperation need to be taken . 38
Summarizing above mentioned , Japan ’ s political strategy towards this region is enhancing through political dialogue and inputting “ universal values ” to promote the integration processes in the region for ensuring peace and stability not only in Central Asia , but also in the entire Eurasian continent .
Conclusion
This paper has aimed to define Japan ’ s strategy in Central Asia and to reveal Japan ’ s political and economic interests in this region . Being interested in peace and stability of Central Asia as a part of entire globe , Japan is promoting the states of Central Asia to overcome economic difficulties , isolation and security threats by developing the infrastructures of crude oil and natural gas production , by supporting the construction of pipelines to export the hydrocarbon resources to the other continents and by enhancing cooperation of peaceful nuclear energy . Japan is encouraging also the integration processes of creation a political
35
Takeshi , “ Japan ’ s Multilateral ,” 75 .
36
Kent E . Calder , Francis Fukuyama , East Asian Multilateralism : Prospects for Regional Stability ( Baltimore : Johns Hopkins Press , 2008 ), 179-80 .
37
“ Prime Minister Abe Visits Mongolia and the Five Central Asian Countries ( October 22-28 , 2015 ),” Website of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan , November 2 , 2015 , https :// www . mofa . go . jp / region / page3e _ 000397 . html ( accessed August 11 , 2020 ).
38
Dadabaev , “ Silk Road ,” 34 . 37