Japan wary as US, Europe up sanctions on Russia

FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2014 file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meet in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in Sochi, Russia. For Japan, the ramping up of sanctions by the West against Russia can be summed up in a familiar phrase: It’s complicated. The tug-of-war over Ukraine threatens to derail Abe’s moves toward rapprochement with Russia. Relations between Japan and Russia suffered for decades due to a territorial dispute that has prevented the signing of a peace treaty after World War II. Yet Japan must toe the line on sanctions: It cannot spurn its main ally the U.S., nor European partners. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Mikhail Klimentyev, Presidential Press Service, File) FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2014 file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meet in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in Sochi, Russia. For Japan, the ramping up of sanctions by the West against Russia can be summed up in a familiar phrase: It’s complicated. The tug-of-war over Ukraine threatens to derail Abe’s moves toward rapprochement with Russia. Relations between Japan and Russia suffered for decades due to a territorial dispute that has prevented the signing of a peace treaty after World War II. Yet Japan must toe the line on sanctions: It cannot spurn its main ally the U.S., nor European partners. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Mikhail Klimentyev, Presidential Press Service, File)

By Associated Press July 17, 2014 3 min read

TOKYO (AP) – For Japan, the ramping up of sanctions by the West against Russia can be summed up in a familiar phrase: It’s complicated.

The tug-of-war over Ukraine threatens to derail Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s moves toward rapprochement with Russia. Relations between Japan and Russia have suffered for decades due to a territorial dispute that has prevented the signing of a peace treaty after World War II.

Yet Japan must toe the line on sanctions: It cannot spurn its main ally the U.S., nor European partners. It also has good reason to stand strong against Russia’s apparent support for pro-Russian insurgents who have destabilized swaths of eastern Ukraine, given the parallels with China’s ambitions toward disputed Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea.

Japan’s chief government spokesman offered only vague support Thursday for the coordinated American and European moves targeting Russian energy firms, financial institutions, arms suppliers and four individuals.

“We are watching the situation of the EU and U.S.,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a regular briefing. “Working with the international community is our stance regarding Ukraine, so we would like to take appropriate measures in line with that attitude.”