No. 145: Russia and the Asia-Pacific

Author(s): Victor Sumsky, Evgeny Kanaev, Paul Richardson, Vitaly Kozyrev
Editor(s): Stephen Aris, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder, Aglaya Snetkov
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 145
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen; Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, George Washington University
Publication Year: 2014

This edition considers Russias relations with some of the key states and multilateral organizations of the Asia-Pacific. Firstly, Victor Sumsky and Evgeny Kanaev consider Russias engagement with ASEAN. Against the background of Moscows reorientation towards Asia and a convergence between the two sides priorities in regional politics, they suggest that Russia-ASEAN cooperation may be set to become more versatile and multidimensional. Secondly, Paul Richardson examines the place of the Russian Far East (RFE) in Moscows relations with the Asia-Pacific, positing that the RFE finds itself in a position of dual dependency-reliance on Moscow for federal development programmes, and on economic relations with the surrounding states of the Asia-Pacific. Thirdly, Vitaly Kozyrev assesses the recently improved relationship between Russia and Vietnam. He outlines that in contrast to many interpretations that see this as a balancing move against China, Beijing considers the Russo-Vietnam partnership as having certain benefits, such as reducing US influence and improving the regional negotiating environment.

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