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2017,
№
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95
ALIMOV OKILIDDIN
Researcher, TSIOS
International aspects of the Japan energy
strategy at the present stage
Abstract.
This paper highlights the issues of energy diplomacy of Japan at the present
stage of bilateral and multilateral cooperation of Japan with other countries that supply fuel
energy, diversification of energy sources, Japan's cooperation with international and regional
energy agencies, as well as actual issues facing the energy diplomacy of Japan today.
Keywords and expressions:
energy diplomacy, energy strategy, energy security, ener-
gy crisis, diversification of energy resources, regional energy cooperation.
Аннотация
.
Мазкур
мақолада
замонавий
босқичда
Япониянинг
энергетика
дипло
-
матияси
,
мамлакатнинг
ёқилғи
-
энергетикаси
етказиб
берувчи
давлатлар
билан
икки
ва
кўптомонлама
ҳамкорлиги
,
энергия
ресурслари
манбаларини
диверсификациялаш
масалалари
,
Япониянинг
халқаро
ва
минтақавий
тузилмалар
билан
энергетика
соҳа
-
сидаги
ҳамкорлиги
,
бугунги
кунда
япон
энергетика
дипломатияси
олдида
турган
долзарб
масалалар
ёритилган
.
Таянч
сўз
ва
иборалар
:
энергетика
дипломатияси
,
энергетика
стратегияси
,
энергетика
хавфсизлиги
,
энергетика
инқирози
,
энергия
ресурслари
диверсифика
-
цияси
,
минтақавий
энергетика
ҳамкорлиги
.
Аннотация
.
В
данной
статье
рассмотрены
вопросы
энергетической
дипломА
-
тии
Японии
на
современном
этапе
,
а
также
двустороннее
и
многостороннее
сотрудничество
Японии
со
странами
,
поставляющими
топливную
энергетику
;
изучаются
вопросы
диверсификации
источников
энергетических
ресурсов
,
а
так
-
же
актуальные
вопросы
,
которые
стоят
перед
энергетической
дипломатией
Япо
-
нии
на
сегодняшний
день
.
Опорные
слова
и
выражения
:
энергетическая
дипломатия
,
энергетическая
стратегия
,
энергетическая
безопасность
,
энергетический
кризис
,
диверсификация
энергоресурсов
,
региональное
энергетическое
сотрудничество
.
The energy strategy of each state sets the main goal of ensuring its energy
security through various means and methods, varies, depending on the extent to
which a given state has the necessary energy resources. Japan's energy strategy is
interesting for study due to the fact that, without its own hydrocarbon reserves, it
was able to become the second economic power in the world.
Japan is the third largest consumer of oil in the world, despite very limited
production of this type of fuel inside the country. Despite the active use of alternative
sources of oil (gas, coal, nuclear energy), oil continues to provide about 50% of Japan's
energy needs, which is about 15% higher than other resources
1
.
1
International Energy Data and Analysis for Japan. Energy Information Administration. Official
Energy Statistics of US Government. URL:http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/country/country_energy_-
data.cfm?fips=JA.
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About 89% of all oil consumed in Japan is provided through supplies from the
Middle East. After the world energy crisis of 1973, during the mid-1980s-early
1990s, Japan managed to ease this dependence a little, roughly reducing the amount
of oil consumed from the Middle East region by about 70%, but by 2000 the share of
oil supplies from this region again increased, this time to 90% of total imported oil
1
.
The main suppliers of oil to Japan are Saudi Arabia (28%), the United Arab
Emirates (25%), Iran (12%), Qatar (9%) and Kuwait (7%). Japan is also the
world's largest importer of liquefied natural gas, and the third largest producer of
nuclear energy. The share of new alternative energy sources does not exceed 1%
in the structure of Japan's energy consumption
2
.
Given the fact that in the system of ensuring the energy security of Japan, oil
supplies occupy a dominant position, it can be argued that the energy strategy, and
hence the energy diplomacy of Japan, is primarily aimed at establishing effective
cooperation with suppliers, as well as finding new, alternative sources of supply
and thus to secure the country's energy system from the possible consequences of
unexpected oil crises, similar to those that occurred in 1973 and 1978
3
.
Japan's energy policy today is difficult to analyze without taking into account
the events of the 1970s, namely, the global energy crisis that led Japan to unders-
tand and realize the importance of creating an integrated and comprehensive
system of measures to protect against this kind of threats, defined the contours of
Japan's energy strategy. It was in 1973, in which the import of oil was 90%, was
the peak of Japan's dependence on energy imports.
It was after the energy crisis and the actual cessation of oil supplies from the Middle
East that experts and statesmen began to talk about the fact that in the modern world,
national security is no longer conceived without ensuring energy security.
Japan, being one of the main importers of oil from the Middle East, found itself in
the situation in which it was urgent to take rapid reaction measures. However, the
crisis affected not only the creation of a system of rapid response measures in the
event of an end to the supply of oil resources to Japan, but also made us think about
the long-term prospects of ensuring the state's energy security
4
.
The ruling circles of Japan almost immediately came to the realization the
need for a comprehensive program of measures in the energy sector so that the
consequences of crises for Japan in the future would not be catastrophic.
It was announced that Japan would seek to conclude long-term contracts for the
supply of oil and to ensure the security of its supply to the country, to diversify the
sources of oil supply, to build and maintain national system of oil reserves, increased
use of natural gas in the structure of energy consumption, development of nuclear
1
Energy Supply in Japan URL:http://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/english/toprunnner/6.7english.pdf.
2
Agency for Natural Recourses and Energy's Report: Energy in Japan. URL: http://www.
enecho.meti.go.jp/topics/energy-in-japan/english.pdf.
3
Toichi T. Japan's Energy Situation: Present and Future. URL:http://eneken.iee j.or.jp/en/data/pdf.
4
Diplomatic Blue Book 1973 Year. Ministry for Foreign Affairs Japan. URL:http://www.mo-
fa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/1973/1973-3-2.htm.
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energy, and also to the development of technologies that would allow replacing oil
with other resources in the most important branches of industry
1
.
In fact, most of these above-mentioned emergency measures were oriented to
a long-term perspective and are still the most important components of Japan's
energy strategy. In this you can to be sure, having familiarized with official
documents, which in their the measures, ways and means of implementing the
energy strategy of Japan at the present stage.
The first
direction of energy diplomacy is to maintain and strengthening of
anti-crisis measures and ways of responding to emergency crisis situations in the
energy sector.
To this end, according to the document, Japan needs to have its own oil reserves
in an amount sufficient to maintain a stable energy supply to the country for the
period of a possible crisis that could lead to a failure of energy supplies to Japan.
In Japan, an oil reserve system has already been created and is developing,
which, is undoubtedly one of the most important steps to ensure the energy
security of the state.
Currently, oil reserves are about 600 million barrels, which is equivalent to
172 days of uninterrupted consumption. Of these, oil in 10 storage facilities of the
Japan National Petroleum Corporation is sufficient to meet the country's needs for
91 days and in the storage of private companies
–
for 81 days. It is believed that
this is enough to avoid large losses due to possible price instability in the oil
market. In order to strengthen the effectiveness of anti-crisis measures, Japan also
strengthen regional cooperation within the ASEAN + 3 forum and the Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and will make every effort to create an
anti-crisis response system in the Asian region
2
.
Secondly,
the document states that Japan seeks to support and to strengthen
friendly relations with the countries of the Middle East, other countries that export oil
and countries that are on the way the most important lines of transportation and
transportation of energy resources. To implement this strategic direction, Japan
intends to strengthen the role of a mediator in the dialogue between exporting and oil-
consuming countries at the multilateral level
3
. In September 2002, Japan began the
successful implementation of this task, thanks to the meeting of the energy ministers
of the energy producers and consumers in Okinawa on the program of the Eighth
International Energy Forum. In addition, the document emphasizes, Japan, through
the development of a political dialogue, strives to build a strategic partnership with
member states of OPEC. The use by Japanese diplomats of the wording of the
"strategic partnership" with OPEC countries seems quite deliberate and logical, given
Japan's huge dependence on oil supplies from the countries of this organization. It is
1
Evans P.C. Japan Energy Security Series. The Brookings Foreign Policy Studies.
URL:http://wvvw. brookings.edu/fp/research/energy/japan. pdf.
2
Chronicles Concerning Energy Conservation Measures - URL:http://www.eccj.or.jp/ chronicle/
index.html.
3
Taro Aso's Speech Middle East Policy as I See It. URL: http://www.mofa. go.jp/region/mid-
dle_e/address0702. html.
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clear that Japan needs a stable political partnership with these countries, since it will
largely determine the overall Japan's energy security strategy.
Due to the fact that many member countries of OPEC are located geographically
in the Middle East, and it is from this region that largest oil supplies to Japan, it is
difficult to overestimate the importance of relations with the states of this region for
Japan. To date, the situation for Japan in the energy sector in the Middle East region
is as follows. Japan's strategic partner in the region is Saudi Arabia, which guaranteed
certain leading Japanese companies the priority right to develop oil fields and steadily
supplying Japan with oil supplies. Strong partnership relations are developed in Japan
with the UAE and Qatar, which in terms of the amount of oil supplied to Japan
occupy leading positions after Saudi Arabia.
As for the general course of Japanese energy diplomacy in the region, then,
both experts and Japanese politicians agree that Japan's independent policy in the
Middle East could bring it significant dividends. Japan needs Middle Eastern oil,
and this should be a key factor for increasing investment in the oil sector of the
Middle East. However, this will be possible only when Japan can convince the
Arab states that they will be able to use their economic weight to help achieve
peace in one of the most problem regions of the world.
Thirdly,
Japan has set itself the task of diversifying sources energy supplies
and, for this, strengthens relations with the most important in this respect by coun-
tries, in particular strengthening cooperation with the Russian Federation, coun-
tries in Africa, Asia and Latin America in energy sector.
With the countries of the South-East Asia region, Japan has close and strong
relations in the energy sphere. Currently, Japan is gradually reoriented from im-
porting oil to import liquefied natural gas, mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia,
and is also actively developing relations with Brunei and Australia, which in the
near future can significantly increase the share of energy supplies to Japan
1
.
Along with the countries of South-East Asia, great importance for the energy
Japan has a Central Asian region. IN 1980s
–
mid 1990s. contacts between the
representatives of Japan and the Central Asia was quite active, and the relation-
ship developed fairly quickly.
In the early 2000's the situation has changed in the direction of intensifying
cooperation in the energy sphere. Most likely, Japan pursued a policy of waiting,
while the countries of Central Asia experienced a period of formation and trans-
formation after the collapse of the USSR. Now the Japanese energy strategy pays
special attention to the countries of this region, and some Japanese companies are
actively involved in oil and gas projects in the region.
This, in particular, is evidenced by the fact that in his speech "New measure-
ment: Central Asia and Japan" in August 2004 at the University of World Eco-
nomy and Diplomacy in Tashkent, the former Japanese Foreign Minister, Ms.
Yoriko Kawaguchi, paid special attention to the cooperation of the states of the
region and Japan in the energy sector. The Minister said that the growth is mainly
1
Masaki H. Oil Hungry Japan looks to Other Sources, Asia Times Online.
URL:http://wwvv.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/IB2 lDh02.html.
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due to India and China's energy consumption in Asia leads to the fact that the
Central Asian region gradually becomes key in terms of potential export opportu-
nities energy resources. Ms. Kawaguchi also expressed her hope for a possible
financing of some energy projects and outlined prospects Japan's investment in
the energy sector of the region
1
.
In addition, in August 2004, Tokyo initiated the dialogue "Central Asia plus Japan",
which at the moment is a sufficiently effective means to achieve certain objectives of
Japan's energy diplomacy in the region
2
. Also on a similar background, Japanese
companies are also actively showing themselves, participating in particular in projects
for the development of Caspian energy resources. Japan is less active in implementing
its energy strategy in such regions like Africa and Latin America, although they could
potentially would be very important partners for Japan in the energy sector. Since
recently, Japan has stepped up energy diplomacy in relation to these regions.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Japan almost completely ignored the countries of the
African continent in terms of the possible import of energy resources. Increased
attention to the countries of the African continent was especially evident among the top
Japanese leadership in the last few years. In general, today the share of African oil in
the total consumption of this type of fuel for Japan is 4.4%. This indicator is very small
in all respects, taking into account the share of the colossal volume of oil imports from
the Middle East and China's active policy aimed at developing relations with African
countries precisely in energy field. In the struggle for African oil at this stage, Japan is
still losing its main political rival to the PRC.
However, the course to strengthen friendly relations with African countries,
actively combating poverty and disease in Africa, development of democratic ins-
titutions, the fight against terrorism, the settlement of regional conflicts, huge finan-
cial flows of gratuitous assistance development of the continent, of course, forms a
super-positive image of Japan on the continent. This already leads to activation of
mutually beneficial cooperation Japan and the African states, including in the energy
sphere and in the future will provide Japan with unique opportunities to use African
energy resources to ensure the energy security of the state
3
.
Fourth,
for Japan it is important to diversify directly sources of energy to
reduce the country's colossal dependence on oil. Japan, in particular, makes every
possible effort to create the necessary conditions for using as much natural gas as
possible in the energy sector. The Japanese leadership believes that this energy
source is geographically more diversified than oil.
The fifth
strategic direction of ensuring energy security for Japan is the rea-
lization of a general trend to save energy, its efficient use, development and use of
1
Policy Speech by Ms Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan at the University of
World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent, Uzbekistan on August 26, 2004: Adding a New Dimension –
Central Asia plus Japan. URL:http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/europe/uzbekistan/speech0408.html
2
Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue Action Plan, June 5, 2006. URL:http://www.mofa.
go.jp/region/europe/dialogue/action0606.html.
3
The Increasing Importance of African Oil. URL:http://w\vw.pinr.com/report.php?-
ac=view_report&report_id=460.
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alternative energy sources and protection of the environment. In the framework of
this direction, Japan is also trying to justify the need to use nuclear energy for the
state and to ensure safety of using this type of energy as one of the main sources
of energy supply of the country.
Finally,
sixthly
, for Japan, it is very important to create mechanisms to ensure
global, energy security. According to the leadership, Japan will support energy
sector reforms in the CIS countries, as well as in the countries of Central and Eas-
tern Europe based on market principles, to cooperate with various countries in the
joint development and extraction of energy resources.
In addition, Japan has been active in implementing some areas of the energy
strategy in many international organizations, such as the G8, the International
Energy Agency, the International Energy Forum, APEC, ASEAN, the Energy
Charter Conference.
The main tasks set by Japan's New Energy Strategy include:
–
Creation of a modern energy consumption system in Japan, for which is
expected to reduce the share of oil in the energy consumption structure of the
country to 40% (at the current stage about 50%) by 2030, to intensify the use of
alternative energy sources;
–
Gradual strengthening of raw diplomacy and strengthening of cooperation in
the field of energy and ecology in various regions of the world, and the struggle to
preserve the stability of energy supplies;
–
Development of emergency response measures for emergencies in the energy
sector through the creation of a system of oil reserves and the introduction of new
technologies in the production, processing and transportation of energy resources.
Coming conclusions about Japan's energy strategy today, it should be noted
that Japan's main priority at this stage is to reduce the overall share of oil con-
sumption, which has recently been achieved quite successfully, by reorienting to
such types of energy as natural gas, nuclear energy and new alternative sources.
Today, Japan actively develops a program to increase the supply of natural gas
from Indonesia and Malaysia and other countries with reserves of this type of fuel.
In Japan, the direction of the introduction of new technologies into the energy
sector is actively developing with regard to the use of non-traditional energy sources.
Despite the fact that while oil is still the dominant source in the structure of
Japan's energy consumption, a gradual decrease in its share is observed due to the
use of nuclear energy and the increase in natural gas supplies.
The primary role in the energy strategy of Japan is played by the regional
diplomacy. Undoubtedly, the strategically important region in this section for
Japan the Middle East serves, and strengthening of relations with the states of this
region is considered one of the main tasks of Japanese energy diplomacy. Other
areas of energy diplomacy are actively developing: South-East Asian, Central
Asian, slightly less active
–
Latin American and African.
Japan's energy strategy today is a modern documented mechanism of action
aimed at ensuring the country's energy security and the effective functioning of
the Japanese economy.
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Solving the tasks of ensuring energy security, Japan also implements a whole
range of tasks of its national security in order to continue to play a significant role
in the world political arena and further strengthen its positions in the world.
NAZIROV MUKHTOR
Researcher, TSIOS
The role of the PRC in the stability of socio-political
processes in the states of Central Asia
Abstract.
This article is devoted to some features of the foreign policy of the People’s
Republic of China on ensuring the stability of social and political processes in the states
of Central Asia and promoting economic prosperity of the region. In particular, the
essence of the Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at the consistent development of construc-
tive, good-neighborly relations between China and the Central Asian states, as well as
raising them to a new level by increasing the region’s potential, is revealed.
Keywords and expressions:
Central Asia, security, development, stability, good-
neighborhood, promotion of prosperity, the Belt and Road Initiative
Аннотация
.
Мазкур
мақолада
Марказий
Осиё
давлатларида
ижтимоий
-
сиёсий
жараёнлар
барқарорлигини
таъминлаш
ва
минтақанинг
иқтисодий
фаровонлигига
кўмаклашиш
бўйича
Хитой
Халқ
Республикаси
ташқи
сиёсатининг
айрим
хусу
-
сиятлари
таҳлил
қилинади
.
Хусусан
,
Хитой
ва
Марказий
Осиё
давлатлари
ўртаси
-
даги
конструктив
,
яхши
қўшничилик
муносабатларини
изчил
ривожлантиришга
ҳамда
минтақанинг
салоҳиятини
ошириш
орқали
алоқаларни
янги
даражага
кўта
-
ришга
қаратилган
“
Бир
макон
–
ягона
йўл
”
ташаббусининг
моҳияти
очиб
берилди
.
Таянч
сўз
ва
иборалар
:
Марказий
Осиё
,
хавфсизлик
,
тараққиёт
,
барқарорлик
,
яхши
қўшничилик
,
фаровонликни
кўллаб
-
қувватлаш
, “
Бир
макон
–
бир
йўл
”
ташаббуси
.
Аннотация
.
В
данной
статье
рассматриваются
некоторые
особенности
внешней
политики
Китайской
Народной
Республики
по
обеспечению
стабильности
социально
-
политических
процессов
в
государствах
Центральной
Азии
и
содействию
экономичес
-
кого
процветания
государств
региона
.
В
частности
,
раскрыта
суть
инициативы
«
Один
пояс
–
один
путь
»,
направленной
на
последовательное
развитие
конструктивных
,
доб
-
рососедских
взаимоотношений
между
Китаем
и
государствами
Центральной
Азии
,
а
также
выведение
их
на
новый
уровень
за
счет
повышения
потенциала
региона
.
Опорные
слова
и
выражения
:
Центральная
Азия
,
безопасность
,
развитие
,
ста
-
бильность
,
добрососедство
,
содействие
процветанию
,
инициатива
«
Один
пояс
–
один
путь
».
At the end of the 20
th
century, five new independent states were formed in
Central Asia. For many reasons, China was interested in creating mechanisms for
constructive interaction with the states of the region. The first necessary condition
for this was the formation of conditions for maintaining a strategic balance of for-
ces in the region, ensuring social and political stability and security, preventing
the emergence of real and potential threats to China.
