Daily Times

The Middle East dominates world politics due to its oil reserves. Since the region is a major exporter of oil and gas; it has a lot of strategic importance. Countries including Japan import oil from the region in order to meet their respective energy requirements.

There are more than a dozen countries located in the Middle East. Many of them have the highest reserves of crude oil, according to the CIA World Fact Book, which was made public in January, 2016. The country with the largest reserves of oil in the region is Saudi Arabia with 269 billion barrels of reserves, followed by Iran, Iraq and Kuwait with each having more than 100 billion barrels of reserves.

Japan has good diplomatic relations with the countries of the region. It established bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia in 1955, and ties with other Middle Eastern countries soon followed. Japan has many interests in the Middle East.

Firstly, Japan enjoys cordial relations with almost all the Muslim countries. Middle Eastern countries all have a Muslim majority, thus, their normal relationship with Japan was natural. Japan lacks the natural resources required to fulfil its energy requirements.

According to one estimate; Japan imports 80 percent of its oil from the Middle East. When the oil producing Arab countries of the region imposed an oil embargo on the US and its allies in 1973, Japan suffered hard consequences for its friendship with the US.

The ships carrying oil pass through the Arabian Sea and East China Sea in order to dock in Japan. Since Japan cannot afford any disturbance in maritime traffic; a series of naval exercises “Aman” was held in 2017, in the Indian Ocean. Thirty five countries including Pakistan and Japan participated in these naval exercises. It was aimed at displaying a united resolve against terrorism and crimes committed in the open seas.

After World War II the constitution of Japan was promulgated on November 3 1946, and came into effect on May 3, 1947. Its article 9 states “Aspiring sincerely to international peace, based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as a means of settling international disputes”. The Japanese constitution is known as pacifist constitution. Subsequently, peace in the Middle East is a priority for Japan.

Trump’s protectionist policies towards Iran and other countries may put the interests of Japan in jeopardy. However, it depends on Japan to save its interests in the Middle East and remain a major US ally

Japan has economic relations in the region. Exports and Imports from and to Japan have contributed a lot in the economic development of the Middle Eastern countries; a good number of Japanese nationals reside in the different countries of the Middle East. About seven thousands Japanese live in the Middle East and they are one of the main bases of relations between Japan and the region.

Neutrality may help Japan ensure protection of its energy interests in the region. It has learnt lessons from 1973 oil embargo. They can not afford its repetition in the future;

The main source of producing energy in Japan is through nuclear power plants. About seventeen atomic reactors fulfil the country’s requirements. The incident of the Fukishima Diachi atomic reactor in 2011, compelled Japan to find an alternative source of producing electricity. Japan began rely on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) which is acquired from the Middle East.

Then there is the rise of Chinese initiatives in the region. This has increased Chinese soft power, which is a matter of concern for Japan. China and Japan have territorial disputes over the Senkaku islands. Moreover, they are economic competitors; Japan cannot afford to allow China to threaten its regional interests.

The United States is also a factor of attracting Japan to the Middle East. Almost all countries including Israel are directly or indirectly allied with the United States. Japan is also ally of the US under the Treaty of 1952.

Japan also has normal and cordial relations with all the countries. Thus, it may play a pivotal role in resolving the outstanding issues of the region; Japan has adopted a balanced foreign policy in the Middle East. It has cordial relations with all Muslim countries. Moreover, the rift between Israel, Iran and other Muslim countries have not put a strain on Japan’s relationship with these countries.

Japan has concerns over the current volatile situation of the Middle East. The Arab countries and Israel has fought three wars in 1948, 1967 and 1973. The Arab-Israel conflict began with the inception of the Jewish state of Israel on Palestinian territory. Japan has recognised the Palestinian state and it supports the two states solution towards the Israel-Palestine conflict. Japan has condemned the Jewish settlements aimed at converting the Palestinians into the minority. Japan urges both the parties to exert maximum restraint from any unilateral action. Japan has always supported the UN Security Council resolution on the Palestinian conflict.

Trump’s protectionist policies towards Iran and other countries may put the interests of Japan in jeopardy. However, it depends upon Japan to save its interests in the Middle East and remain as a major US ally. On the issue of shifting of the U.S embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2017, Japan voted against the US decision in the UN. This act supports the assumption that Japan may go against the US in order to protect its national interest.

The writer is freelance columnist and has a doctorate in Political Science

Published in Daily Times, September 7^th 2018.