Initial Disclosure Date: Nov 7, 2013

On November 2, 2013, the Japanese and Russian governments held their first 2 + 2 meeting in Tokyo, inviting Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavnov. To Japan, Russia is the third country to hold a 2 + 2 meeting after the United States and Australia. To Russia, Japan is the fifth country after the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. The Asahi Shimbun, a major liberal newspaper in Japan, argues that Japan had held 2 + 2 meetings with close security partners whereas Russia had used 2 + 2 meetings to discuss even frictions with countries that do not necessarily agree with Russia on national security issues. The Japanese government aimed to launch 2 + 2 meetings with Russia to: 1) contain China by strengthening cooperation with Russia, which is a strategic partner of China; and 2) move forward the Northern Territory issue. However, the 2 + 2 meeting between Japan and Russia did not yield any progress in the territorial issue and Russia intently avoided discussing issues related to China with Japan. ^(footnote:1)

Still, the Japanese and Russian governments agreed on the following issues: 1) joint anti-piracy exercises in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia; 2) the expansion of joint exercises between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Russian Navy from search and rescue to counter terrorism and anti-piracy; and 3) the establishment of regular cybersecurity dialogues between the two governments. Japan and Russia also confirmed to hold 2 + 2 talks on a regular basis and Moscow will host the next one in 2014.

Sources:

1. Jiji Press, “Japan, Russia boost defense ties in 1st ‘2-plus-2’ talks,” November 3, 2013,
   http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000768172
2. Nihon Keizai Shimbun, “Nichi-ro Somalia oki de kaizoku taisaku no kyodo kunren 2 + 2 de goi [Japan-Russia 2 + 2 meeting reached an agreement to conduct joint exercises to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia],” November 2, 2013,
   http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFS0200A_S3A101C1MM0000/
3. Sankei Shimbun, “Anpo de kyoryoku kakudai Hatsu no Nichi-ro gaimu, boei kakuryo kyogi [Japan and Russia held the first 2 + 2 meeting between defense and foreign ministers to expand bilateral security cooperation],” November 2, 2013,
   http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/news/131102/plc13110213060007-n1.htm

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