| Since the beginning of twenty-first century, an era of increasing globalization,the world pattern has been quietly changing. As an engine of the world economytoday, the growth rate of Asia-Pacific region is staggering. At the same time, as theregion converges many interests of big powers, it is becoming contested more thanever. In addition, there are various conflicts and territorial disputes among North Asiaand Asia-Pacific countries, making this region gradually become a high-risk areapotentially and realistically. All these factors have a far-reaching impact onAsia-Pacific nations and the world situation. Because of this, the Asia-Pacific regionhas become focus of the world today.As a regional big power, Russia stretches across much of the north of thesupercontinent of Eurasia. Although its centers of politics, economy and culture aremainly located in Europe, more than two-thirds of its territory belongs to Asia. Thismeans that the relationship between Russia and Asia-Pacific region is inseparable,which makes Russia a typical Eurasia power. After the cold war, Russia implementedthe pro-western foreign policy of “lean to one side” initially. However, it wasn’tproved effective, because it failed to blend in the western world as it wished and itsown problem remain unsolved. Instead the international image was severely damaged.Since the mid-1990s, Boris Yeltsin government began to adjust Russia’s foreignpolicy and implemented the “double-head eagle” strategy which took both east andwest into consideration, whereas the comprehensive strength was still not fullyrestored. Facing the complex international situation, in order to enhance thecomprehensive national power and to retrieve the international position, Russiastarted to implement the omnidirectional foreign policy in1996. Since2000, whenPutin took office, this policy has been adjusted several times to be more flexible andpragmatic. The most prominent adjustment was to further strengthen the relationshipbetween both sides. While enhancing the relationship with China, Japan, North Korea,South Korea, India and Vietnam, Russia also intervened actively into Asian-Pacificaffairs, meanwhile participated and took a full part in the multilateral organizationslike APEC, SCO and ASEAN. These changes made Russia gradually blended into theprocess of politic&economy integration of the Asian-Pacific region. Thenceforth,Russia established a mode of multilateral diplomacy with its fundamental interests atthe core. In2008, when Mr. Medvedev was elected President, Putin’s foreign policywas inherited and developed. Russia’s influence on the Asian-Pacific region wasfurther expanded. President Putin was re-elected in2012. It is not hard to see from his administration that in the next period of time, Russia will proceed to implement theomnidirectional policy and Double-winged Diplomacy, for the safeguard of nationalinterests and the manifestation of a Eurasian power status.By far, former presidents of Russia has repeatedly stressed the significant role ofAsia-Pacific region. Asia-Pacific diplomacy gradually weights more in Russia’sglobal strategy. The government even lists the development of Russian eastern regionas the priority for all in the country’s overall development. The Asia-Pacific strategyhas achieved initial success. However, from a general point of view, theimplementation of Russia’s Asia-Pacific strategy is still constrained by various factors.Diplomacy strategies continues to focus on the West. Therefore, it remains to be seenwhether the establishment of a "Eurasian Union" Putin proposed can be brought in toforce in the future, and how Russia will further play the role of bridge and linkbetween Eurasian powers. |
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