Russia's East Asia policy: New opportunities and challenges

Abstract

Since the demise of the Soviet Union, Russia s foreign policy has evolved from a Westernoriented one to a multi-dimensional one, with substantial focus on East Asia. Russia s East Asian policy is stimulated by its bid for great power status in the region. Russian-Chinese relations have been the axis of Russia s East Asian foreign policy, though the relations have not been without their challenges. Overdependence on China threatens Russia s independent policy in the region and encourages Russia to search for ways to diversify its ties. The rise of China and the US counter-offensive have resulted in a changing strategic environment in East Asia. A need for balancing between the US and China has brought about ASEAN countries desire to welcome Russia as a balancer in the region. It corresponds with Russia s course on intensifying cooperation with East Asian countries in order to facilitate the development of Siberia and the Russian Far East.