Japan To Freeze Economic Ventures With Russia

Japan will freeze economic cooperation projects with Russia, including an eight-point plan intended to break the deadlock over a territorial issue, a government spokesman said Friday as Tokyo hardens its stance on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

Photo Insert: Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the Russian aggression in Ukraine has made it difficult to deepen bilateral cooperation in the economic field. Japan has taken a spate of sanctions including an asset freeze targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Based on the stance that government projects related to economic cooperation with Russia, including the eight-point plan, should be put on hold, we will respond by taking into account our energy security and humanitarian standpoint," Matsuno told a press briefing.

The eight-point plan was proposed in 2016 when then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was seeking closer ties with Putin to resolve the territorial dispute over a group of islets off Hokkaido and advance talks toward a postwar peace treaty.

Private-sector companies have been involved in various projects in the eight areas such as energy, health care, and high-tech technology. They include a liquefied natural gas development project.

"There are a variety of energy, health care, and other projects in the private sector and their progress varies," Matsuno said.

"We believe due consideration will be made to each project as needed." Japan has strongly criticized the invasion as unilateral use of force to change the status quo in violation of international law.

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