NHK reported this morning that President Putin signed a decree on Thursday to replace Sakhalin Energy Investment Company, the body that operates the “Sakhalin-2” gas and oil project in Russia’s Far East, with a newly established Russian firm. According to the report, Putin signed the decree in response to a “threat to Russia’s national interest and economic security.” The network….Read more

WASHINGTON — The American and Taiwanese militaries should ramp up sharing of tactical intelligence to better prepare for the threat of a potential Chinese invasion of the island, said U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, a leading figure in recent congressional efforts to turn the White House’s foreign policy focus more toward Asia.   In an online interview with Nikkei on Wednesday,….Read more

By Watanabe Tsuneo, senior research fellow, Sasakawa Peace Foundation   With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s military buildup in mind, holding concrete discussions on foreign and national security is indispensable for the ruling and opposition parties.   The United States no longer possess overwhelming power on either the economic or military fronts. With East Asia facing a more dire….Read more

TAKUMA NAGAMORI, Nikkei staff writer   TOKYO — A group of roughly 100 Japanese companies including Toyota Motor and Hitachi will seek a bigger voice in lithium, a vital part of electric-vehicle batteries and an area where China’s influence has grown.   Representatives from over 15 countries, including Japan and China, are expected to meet around September to discuss International Organization for Standardization….Read more

By Imamura Takashi, director of Marubeni Research Institute   Continuity is an important element in foreign policy. If Japan is not consistent in foreign policy, it will not be able to win the international community’s trust.   China has become a strategic competitor. As the direction of globalization has changed, [there are countries that] only think about their own gain,….Read more