Japan's recent announcement on sanctions against Moscow signified that the West has imposed collective pressure over Russia's actions in Crimea. These sanctions would not have been complete and the collective will of the Western world would not have been fully displayed without Japan's participation.
It is apparent that Tokyo's sanctions on Russia are a declaration that it stands with the rest of the G7.
As a member of the rich country club, Japan is in every way justified to stand shoulder to shoulder with Western nations in the arena of international politics. It has a convention of allying with strong and powerful countries and has basically kept such a stance in tackling major international hot spot issues in the past.
Russia's maneuver in the Crimea peninsula represents a landmark in changing the world's geopolitical architecture. When the US and Europe protested vehemently and declared sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin's move, Japan had no alternative but to keep a consistent position with its allies.
After all, Japan remains a follower of the Western camp in today's global political field.
Tokyo has its own national interests. It had to consider what kind of sanctions against Moscow was in its own interests, while ensuring that it provides proper support for the West.
Japan's cabinet led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not wield substantially tough sanctions. Tokyo merely decided to halt some ongoing negotiations with Moscow, evidently demonstrating that it was reluctant to inflict any baleful influence upon their bilateral relations.
Japan, a country starved of resources, is in dire need of resources from Russia. Moscow is also an important destination of investment for myriad Japanese businesses.
The protracted territorial contention over the Southern Kuriles needs collaboration from Putin's side. Furthermore, the Abe administration has never veered from an attempt to use Russia to balance China's growing influence on Northeast Asia.
Suffice to say, therefore, the Japanese government will try to adopt the lightest measures to sanction Moscow, in fear of a regression in their bilateral ties.
Putin's government is assumed to understand that Japan's punishment has not affected their relations in a substantial way, because it is clear to Russia that Tokyo has limited independence on the world's political stage.
More importantly, Moscow has been longing for an improvement in ties with Tokyo, given its urgent need for Japanese funds and technologies. The two nations were trying their best to tacitly minimize the aftermath of Crimea's integration into Russia.
Japan edged itself into the team of economic powerhouses in the 1980s and has been sparing no effort to become a great political power.
Growing to a developed economy out of post-WWII destitution was a relatively unilateral activity, compared with which it is a much bumpier mission to become a recognized political power.
Dealing with US-Japan relations in an appropriate way has been the most difficult task for Tokyo. Some Japanese politicians have attempted de-Americanization as part of developing mature politics, but failed every time due to harsh pressure from Washington.
The Abe administration has adopted consolidation of its ties with Washington as a cornerstone of its foreign policies, in the hope of developing into a political power step by step with its ally's assistance or at least acquiescence.
That's why Tokyo has to stand with the US-led Western world over Crimea.
In terms of Japan's present influence upon the international community, Japan is neither able nor poised to serve as a mediator to improve relations between Moscow and the West. It will, in the future, still keep consonant with the West in general policies on this issue, and only exhibit slight independence in terms of the items and degree of sanctions in a bid to sustain its ties with Russia.
The author is director of the Center for Strategic Studies, Beihang University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn