TY - JOUR

T1 - National interests of Japan and its emerging Arctic policy

AU - Almazova-Ilyina, A.B.

AU - Vinogradov, A.D.

AU - Krasnozhenova, E. E.

AU - Eidemiller, K.Yu.

N1 - A.B. Almazova-Ilyina et al. 2020 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 539 012048

PY - 2020/8/12

Y1 - 2020/8/12

N2 - In this paper we discuss main challenges, both global and regional, that define Japan's current policy for the Arctic. Global challenges like rising sea levels and threats to marine biodiversity primarily stem from rapid climate change in the Arctic. However, these developments also bring new opportunities that attract attention of governments and businesses. Shrinking covered in ice areas open up prospects for Arctic Ocean shipping and development of natural resources. Regional challenges mostly concern rivalry between China, Japan and South Korea, as well as Japan's 'mediator' role between other states in East Asia and the Arctic. We then analyze policy initiatives in Arctic affairs declared by the government of Japan in the official documents as well as some practical outcomes of these policies. There are three main policy areas prioritized by Japan: research and development, international cooperation, and sustainability of further exploration of the Arctic. Ultimately, we attempt to identify national interests that are confronted by existing challenges and pursued by Japan in its emerging Arctic endeavors. Japan's current interests in the Arctic include energy and food security, economic interests in new shipping opportunities and extraction of natural resources, urgent environmental action, and a search for a stronger position in contemporary global and regional order.

AB - In this paper we discuss main challenges, both global and regional, that define Japan's current policy for the Arctic. Global challenges like rising sea levels and threats to marine biodiversity primarily stem from rapid climate change in the Arctic. However, these developments also bring new opportunities that attract attention of governments and businesses. Shrinking covered in ice areas open up prospects for Arctic Ocean shipping and development of natural resources. Regional challenges mostly concern rivalry between China, Japan and South Korea, as well as Japan's 'mediator' role between other states in East Asia and the Arctic. We then analyze policy initiatives in Arctic affairs declared by the government of Japan in the official documents as well as some practical outcomes of these policies. There are three main policy areas prioritized by Japan: research and development, international cooperation, and sustainability of further exploration of the Arctic. Ultimately, we attempt to identify national interests that are confronted by existing challenges and pursued by Japan in its emerging Arctic endeavors. Japan's current interests in the Arctic include energy and food security, economic interests in new shipping opportunities and extraction of natural resources, urgent environmental action, and a search for a stronger position in contemporary global and regional order.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85090757108&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/3ee8f5ef-9a82-358b-a9f9-c36798195fb7/

U2 - 10.1088/1755-1315/539/1/012048

DO - 10.1088/1755-1315/539/1/012048

M3 - Conference article

VL - 539

JO - IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science

JF - IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science

SN - 1755-1307

IS - 1

M1 - 012048

T2 - 5th International Conference "Arctic: History and Modernity"

Y2 - 18 March 2020 through 19 March 2020

ER -