Zhou Ming Zhai Huasheng

Abstract: After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Japan quickly recognized the legal status of the five Central Asian countries and established diplomatic relations with them. However, Japan's stable Central Asia strategy did not take shape until the emergence of the "Central Asia + Japan" dialogue mechanism in 2004. Since then, Japan has gradually strengthened its involvement in Central Asia. With China's "one belt, one road" initiative, Japan has once again stepped up its involvement in the five Central Asian countries. Since 2019, in the multilateral field, Japan has carried out close cooperation in tourism development, logistics and transportation, and regional security with the platform of "Central Asia + Japan" dialogue mechanism; in the bilateral field, Japan has focused on cooperation with Central Asian countries, and constantly promoted the development of relations. Throughout the history of Japan's contacts with Central Asian countries, Japan's pursuit of political influence and power status, the influence of resource factors and the balance of China's influence in the region are the main reasons for Japan's active involvement in Central Asia.