EACS-2016. Book of Abstracts

Politics & International Relations 21st Biennial Conference of the European Association for Chinese Studies 170 “One Belt, One Road” to tradition vision of “all under the heaven”. Discussing the issue of traditional visions and values the author goes back to “soft-power” notion and discussing the worldwide discourse on “One Belt, One Road”. Muratshina Ksenia (Ural Federal University named after B. N. Yeltsin) Energy Cooperation in China-Japan-Russia Triangle Key words: China, Japan, Russia, energy cooperation The relationship between China and one of its most important partners and rivals — Japan — is currently characterized by intensifying competition for economic leadership inAsia-Pacific. Consequently, the significance of various aspects of their economic security is growing, primarily technological and energy security. Russia turns out to be involved in this rivalry, too, due to the role of its energy resources exports. The analysis of energy cooperation and rivalry is essential for a better understanding of relations in China-Japan-Russia triangle. In the beginning of the 21st century China and Japan have launched several large-scale projects with Russia, including Eastern Siberia — Pacific Ocean pipeline, liquid natural gas production in Sakhalin, huge oil and gas deals. All bilateral projects have drawn the attention of the third party and got specific evalua- tion. We have to emphasize that, although Russia declares China to be its key partner in Asia, it did not and should not dismiss the opportunities of cooperation with other countries interested in it, including Japan, in order to choose the most beneficial conditions of cooperation and diversify its energy exports. Atomic and alternative energy are also important areas of cooperation. While the latter one is in the stage of sharing the experience, the first one has already become a mutually beneficial and developing industry. A variety of joint projects is carried out, the feedback is mutual, however some problems occur too, e.g. Russian state corporation “Rosatom” has already suffered from aggressive competition by China in Latin America. Thus, energy interaction in the triangle is burgeoning. It is influenced by various factors and contains a considerable potential of both cooperation and competition. It is also a part of energy strategies of all three countries. And Russia by developing its strategy can gain not only financial, but political benefits as well. Naraoka Sochi (Kyoto University) Japan’s Twenty-One Demands and Their Impact on Sino-Japanese Relations, 1914–1923: New Research on British Sources Key words: British diplomacy, newspapers, nationalism, imperialism, Great War The Twenty-One Demands, which Japan presented to China in 1915, are known as a turning point in Sino- Japanese relations. By concluding a treaty with China based on these demands, Japan gained a secure place in Manchuria. In retrospect, the demands are regarded as the herald of Japanese expansion on the Continent in the 1930s. On the other hand, China resisted Japan fiercely in the negotiations, which became a catalyst for Chinese nationalism. May 9, the day when the Chinese government accepted the Demands, was named a ‘National Humiliation Day’. This paper examines the international impact of the Twenty-One Demands, mainly using British primary sources. Although there are a lot of previous studies drawing onAmerican and Japanese sources, the works based on British archives are relatively few. From this perspective, the paper re-examines how the negotiations proceeded and what impact they had on Sino-Japanese relations during and after the First WorldWar. Discussion also focuses on the British newspapers, which have been neglected in previous studies. British journalists were in a serious dilemma in the face of Japan’s demands. Japanese expansion in China clearly had the potential to damage existing British interests, but Japan was an ally and its support was necessary in the war against Germany. The Manchester Guardian, whose position was near to that of the radicals and which reflected the interests of the trading community of Lancashire, was critical of Japan’s demands and insisted that British interests in China should be protected. On the other hand, The Times, which was conservative and friendly with the Foreign Office, basically reported in favour of Japan. This paper analyses in particular the initiative taken by Henry Wickham Steed, the director of the Foreign Department of The Times, as well as the roles of the newspaper’s correspondents.