The Far Eastern Affairs N4 2010

Summary

A. Vorontsov, P. Agaltsov. Is the Existence of East-Asian Multilateral Security Structure Possible?

The article analyses the prospects for creation of multilateral security system in East Asia. According to the authors, there is an aspiration in East Asia, that still remains among a few world regions not having a permanent forum to deal with security problems, to form such an organization.

The paper presents various ideas and proposals based on both European experience, including the OSCE, and local regional institutions that could be useful for the purpose.

Authors concluded that under certain conditions the six-party talks mechanism for solving Korean Peninsula nuclear problem could become a foundation for East-Asian security structure.

Key words: East Asia, security, regionalism, integration, dialogue structure.

Ya. Berger. The Evolution of Geopolitical Views in China

The article considers geopolitical views by Chinese researchers with different ideological motivation: nationalistic, expansionistic and realistic, reflected in some of newly published Chinese books. A type of ideological orientation has a great impact on the choice of military doctrine and foreign strategy. But only realistic approach fully corresponds to genuine Chinese national interests.

Key words: geopolitics, strategy, safety, westernization, nationalism, Great-power behavior, expansionism.

V. Grinyuk. Political Problems of Yasukuni Shrine

Personnel of Japanese armed forces, who died for the Emperor at wars in the period from 1868 to 1945, have been enshrined at Shinto Yasukuni shrine. Before 1945 Yasukuni was an instrument of educating people in the spirit of nationalism and militarism. In the postwar time Yasukuni lost status of a state shrine, but keeps influence as a symbol of nationalistic values. There is a museum at the shrine, which exposition justifies militaristic policy. Liberal-democratic party of Japan strives to make Yasukuni a state-run shrine, but wide circles of Japanese society resist, defending freedom of belief and antiwar principles. In the foreign countries, primarily in PRC and RK, as well as in USA and Germany, experts negatively react to the attention, which Japanese political leaders demonstrate to Yasukuni shrine. In such attitude of ruling circles of the country they see the reluctance to give clear and negative evaluation to the policy of agression and colonial rule pursued by Japanese Empire.

Key words: Yasukuni jinja, Shinto, state Shinto, militarism, war criminals, official visits to Yasukuni.

V. Mazyrin. New Trends and Actual Problems in Russian-Vietnamese Economic Relations

The paper analyses current changes in economic relations between Russia and Vietnam. Both objective stimulus and difficulties of this process are revealed. Main attention is paid to basic spheres of mutual cooperation which are ranked according to their importance — from military-technical assistance to trade and services. The influence of global financial crisis, Vietnam’s transition to new economic model and formation of the sea-oriented development strategy are taken into consideration. The author points out the rising rapprochement of two countries and overcoming stagnation in their bilateral cooperation.

Key words: Russia and Vietnam, trade and economic relations, military-technical assistance, industrial cooperation, sea-oriented development strategy, China’s influence.

Ì. Aleksandrova. Shut-down of the “Big Market” or Running Away from “Grey Custom Schemes”

Shut-down of the Cherkizovskiy wholesale and retail market was one of the steps taken by the Russian Government in countering illegal imports of low-quality products into the RF territory. The equivocal reaction by the Chinese side generated a flow of rumors including that one about massive liquidation of Chinese companies that manufactured counterfeit products for Russia. Russian textile, light and footwear industries are of tangible social significance; besides, those sectors fulfill the state-guaranteed orders for the military and other power structures.

Key words: “Cherkizon”, “grey custom clearance”, counterfeit goods; Chinese entrepreneurs in Russia, commodities of shadowed origin, low-cost labour, township-forming sectors.

A. Tarasov. Chinese Labour in Transbaikalie

Unfavorable demographic situation in the region turns the inflow of labour migrants to it into an important factor of economic life. Drawing foreign labour force helps to revitalize the local economy. In the meantime the presence of Chinese migrants on the territory of Transbaikalie remains limited. It has no influence on local job situation and does not create social problems.

Key words: Transbaikalie, migration, labour force, demography, Chinese.

V. Ganshin. The Role of Internet in Formation of Civil Society in PRC

The origins of Internet and the development of civil society in the PRC look much similar. It is the State who plays the leading role in both processes.

Key words: Internet regulation, censorship, civil society, Google, ciber-space.

V. Portyakov. The Vision of Multipolarity in Russia and China and International Challenges

The article analyses approaches of Russia and China to the concept of a multipolar world. Some quantitative estimates of power and influence of the great powers are given. The shifts in the global hierarchy, caused by the economic crisis, are examined. The author comes to the conclusion that Russia and China have to overcome consistently their own internal weaknesses and effectively tackle numerous international challenges to consolidate their positions of independent poles of the world.

Key words: Russia, China, multipolarity, internal weaknesses, international challenges.

V. Ðîstnikov. Pacific Ocean as a “Mediterranean Sea of the Future”: the Story of Idea (the middle of XIX — the beginning of XX centuries).

The article relates to the concept that had postulated the Pacific Ocean as a “Mediterranean Sea of the future”. This concept was spread in Russia in the beginning of XX century and served as an appeal to consolidate its position in the Pacific region. The emergence of the concept was connected with A.I. Herzen, L.I. Mechnikov as well as and famous world geopoliticians. The author concludes that Russian political ideologists were front supporters of Asian-Pacific cooperation.

Key words: history of Asian-Pacific region, history of the Russian Far East, geopolitics, Russian socio-political ideas, historiography of Russian and world history.

S. Kurtinez. The Japanese Intelligence Services in Northern Manchuria in the 1920’s

On the basis of back file materials the article explores the activities of the Japanese intelligence services in the Far East and in Northern Manchuria during 1920’s, their structure and changes depending on political conditions in the region.

Key words: Japanese intelligence services, Northern Manchuria, military mission.

N. Ten. The Presentation of Russian History in Contemporary China (based on Chinese secondary schools’ history textbooks and popular literature on Russia)

The author investigates how various themes, including mutual interaction, territory delimitation and key periods in Russian history are presented both in contemporary Chinese history textbooks for secondary schools and Russianist literature for wide readership that had been published in China during 1997-2008. The author emphasizes the peculiar perception of Russian history in China and considers it most important factor for creation the image of Russia in contemporary PRC.

Key words: image of Russia, Russian-Chinese relations, Chinese secondary schools’ history textbooks, contemporary Russianist publications for wide readership in China.

K. Fendler. Japanese Plan to Abduct the Korean Emperor Kojong during the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905: Russian Diplomacy Saved Kojong

Citing the documents from State Archives in Vienna and from Archives of foreign policy of Russian Empire at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation the expert on Korean history from Budapest concludes that active actions of Russian diplomacy in 1905 frustrated the Japanese plan to transfer Korean emperor Kojong to Japan and precipitate the Japanese annexation of Korea.

Key words: documents from archives, Japan, Korea, Russian diplomacy, Emperor Kojong.