Japan plays catch-up in Central Asia

Subject

Japan-Central Asia ties.

Significance

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will make a five-nation tour of Central Asia in August -- the first since Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's in 2006. With the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union in effect as of January 1 and China fleshing out its plans for a 'New Silk Road Economic Belt', Japan presents itself as a 'third option' that could dilute China's and Russia's predominance.

Impacts

• Opportunities for Japanese investment will grow, especially in the field of nuclear energy.
• Security ties could grow under the Abe government's defence reforms, 'proactive pacificism' and new interest in counter-terrorism.
• South Korea presents itself as another 'third option' and other countries are becoming more active too, even as the US presence recedes.